Unique program mixes charity and education

By Laura Drinan
Hometown Weekly Reporter

Fundraising for health-related charities and foundations can be hugely rewarding, but the time and effort spent organizing it can be quite taxing.

In school, fundraising can sometimes take the focus off of learning, too, which frustrates teachers and administration.

Luckily, Astrid Hendren has come up with an idea to combine fundraising and education with Cause Fund.

Cause Fund is a fundraiser with a 20-day curriculum built around it. Students can choose a cause they are drawn to, including charities that support those with cancer, autism, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes, as well as charities that help veterans, the homeless, and disaster relief foundations.

“They don’t have to fundraise as part of the program because it’s in school curriculum and based on social emotional learning. We want to empower kids to feel like they can be passionate about something,” said Hendren, which is why she places an importance on allowing the students to choose a charity.

The program is appropriate for grades kindergarten through 12, with different activities recommended for various grade levels. Middle school and high school students will collaborate on a project to present to their peers and possibly to those participating in other districts. The Cause Fund package includes note cards that suggest what each day should be dedicated to. For example, there could be one day completely dedicated to learning about ALS, while another day may teach about heart disease.

October 4 marked the kickoff day for Cause Fund, and the community joined Hendren in Medfield center to learn about the organization. She mentioned that as of October 4, fifteen schools in Massachusetts were already signed up to incorporate Cause Fund into their curriculum. While the program is meant for health-related classes, principals involved in the program are finding ways to incorporate it into other subjects, like English.

Former Celtics coach M.L. Carr also joined the Medfield community to celebrate the kickoff of Cause Fund. “One of the great things about being involved in something like this is that you will have a direct impact,” he said. “We are teaching the next generation to be givers.”

Hendren’s careful design of the program has led to the community’s positive reception and support. While the future may bring some tweaks and edits to the program, for now, she has created the perfect program that pairs philanthropy and education.

Hendren encouraged those interested in the program to visit the website at www.causefund.org for details and further information.