Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, the number one children’s hospital in California, conducts more than 723,000 patient visits and performs nearly 16,000 surgeries each year. To support these patients and CHLA’s Child Life program, Kate Rheinheimer (’28), a junior ambassador for CHLA, organized a bake sale which took place March 13.
Rheinheimer took over leadership of Archer’s CHLA club after former leader Anna Entin (‘24) graduated last year. The club meets every other Wednesday in faculty adviser Joshua Stern’s classroom. Club members brought in a range of baked goods for the fundraiser, including cake pops, brownies, cookies and doughnuts.
“I think it went pretty well for my first bake sale,” Rheinheimer said. “I’m so grateful for everyone who pitched in, brought items and helped check out students. I think the Archer community is always super willing to come and support a bake sale, especially when it’s for a good cause.”
The bake sale raised a total of $741. Stern said fundraisers offer students an opportunity to raise money for causes they care about beyond the classroom. He said raising money for CHLA brings awareness to the experiences of hospitalized children.
“It’s important for Archer students to realize the hardships that people go through and how we can really come together and support these other kids who are going through these really difficult things,” Stern said. “[CHLA does] great work in helping children who need help medically, but also provide a lot of fun and a lot of life for children who unfortunately situations when they spend a lot of time in the hospital. So I just think it’s a really positive, fulfilling, joyful experience — bringing these kids a lot of happiness and raising money goes a long way to helping them with their medical bills.”
Selam Habtu (’28), who also helped run the bake sale, said contributing to the cause felt rewarding.
“It feels good in helping out,” Habtu said. “Even if it’s just helping out in some parts, I know that it’s going to a good cause by helping children in the hospital.”
Since it is Stern’s second year advising the club at Archer, he said he knows the organization well and was eager to continue supporting its mission.
“I’ll start off by saying that Kate really leads this club. She’s amazing at organizing everything and bringing ideas to the table,” Stern said. “As a faculty adviser, I really provide a space to connect my classroom. I offer ideas when I can. I help out with any back ends — things like setting up tables for the events and getting the iPads together. I helped bake cookies today for the fundraisers. I participate whenever I can, but really just being there for support and help the growth of this club.”
Rheinheimer said leading the club has been a learning curve, but her experience running two FLX-blocks called Music and Mindfulness and Crochet and Mindfulness in middle school helped prepare her for the leadership role.
“It’s a lot of organization and group emails, but it’s been so nice to have a community of my friends and other Archer students who fully support the cause and are happy to be part of the club,” Rheinheimer said. “I hope to just bring as many people who are interested in the program. I hope to support them in their fundraising goals and just help them join the program if they’re interested. And also, hopefully, have this be sort of a lifelong thing that they continue to support the Children’s Hospital, because, again, it’s such a worthy cause.”
