Way to Go: Augie Cavallaro, Carle Place
Augie Cavallaro, 17, a senior at Carle Place High School, has raised more than $18,000 for various charities during the past four years by participating in his school's annual "Battle of the Classes, Battling for a Cause" event. Credit: Carle Place School District
A Carle Place student with a flair for fundraising has raised more than $18,000 for various charities during the past four years.
Augie Cavallaro, a senior at Carle Place High School, raised the money by participating in his school's "Battle of the Classes, Battling for a Cause." Since 2012, he has been the school's top fundraiser in the annual event, in which grade levels compete in activities such as relay races to bring in money for charity.
This year, Cavallaro raised $5,700 for the Ty Louis Campbell Foundation, a nonprofit organization that strives to raise awareness about pediatric cancer. Overall, the school collected about $25,000 for the foundation.
"It's a very competitive event, but the main focus is to raise money for charity," said Cavallaro, 17. "I'm very thankful to everyone who helped out. Every little bit can help."
Cavallaro said he wrote and distributed letters soliciting donations to family, friends and local businesses. He also coordinated a Super Bowl-themed raffle of a variety of local gift cards that raised $1,500, he said.
Other organizations he has raised funds for in previous school years are the Lexiebean Foundation for Children with Cancer, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and Ronald McDonald House.
Cavallaro is senior class president and a member of the Key Club and Leadership Club.
