-
Clemmy Jacobson (’30) helps serve Juliet Carter (’28) in the line for the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles bake sale. Archer’s CHLA Club hosted a bake sale fundraiser during lunch Dec. 5, led by club president Kate Rheinheimer (’28). “I think CHLA is a valuable organization because it helps children who are less fortunate,” Carter said. “It helps children get the resources they need to be strong.”
Photo credit: Nissara Shah
-
Vivienne Knight (’32), Laila Zellars (’32), Nathalie Boror (’32) and Kaliyah Garmon (‘32) pose for a photo at the CHLA fundraiser. Zellars said this fundraiser will make an important impact for the wider organization. “Kids who have disabilities or are less fortunate can’t always learn the same way,” Zellars said. “So this money can help them get more opportunities and get more involved.”
Photo credit: Nissara Shah
-
Club members Malvika Ganapathy (’28), Simone Alba (’30), Clemmy Jacobson (’30) help organize and sell baked goods. Ganapathy said her favorite part about the bake sale was seeing how many baked goods the community had brought. “CHLA is an incredible institution that helps children,” Ganapathy said. “I want to do all I can to support CHLA, whether it is through joining Archer’s amazing club or fundraising by myself. I want to make a difference in the lives of those who need treatment at this hospital and to raise money to fund the research that is going on there.”
Photo credit: Nissara Shah
-
Sarah Mzoughi (’28) uses an iPad to help students pay for baked goods to support the fundraiser. Mzoughi said her role in the club has allowed her to see the impact of providing resources to underprivileged communities. “CHLA provides services to a lot of underfunded communities,” Mzoughi said. “It’s our responsibility as privileged young women to give back, whether it’s by making goods or raising money.”
Photo credit: Nissara Shah
-
Annie Zager (’31) and Kayla Opos (’31) pose for a photo at the CHLA fundraiser. Zager supported the fundraiser and said CHLA fosters community and empowerment for families. “CHLA helps families support their children,” Zager said. “It also helps provide educational resources.”
Photo credit: Nissara Shah
-
Alba and Jacobson wait to help serve Archer students at the bake sale. Alba said ever since she was little, she had a desire to help vulnerable communities. “My favorite part of the fundraiser was watching so many people in the Archer community come together to support The Children’s hospital of Los Angeles,” Alba said. “I find it shocking how much a few cookies can help impact kids in need.”
Photo credit: Nissara Shah
The chorus of “We Are the World,” a song from nonprofit USA For Africa, starts, “We are the world, we are the children, we are the ones who make a brighter day, so let’s start giving.” This sentiment was echoed through the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles fundraiser in the courtyard Friday, Dec. 5.
Sophomore Kate Rheinheimer joined the CHLA club when she was in sixth grade and took over leading the club when the previous leader, Anna Entin, graduated in 2024. Rheinheimer said Entin was not planning on continuing the club, but Rheinheimer reached out and requested to take charge and keep it going.
In addition to working as the CHLA club leader at Archer, Rheinheimer is also a Junior Ambassador for the hospital. Rheinheimer said the Junior Ambassador program consists of 200 students, ranging in age from 7 to 18.
“You just apply, and it’s a branch of the hospital that is part of more of the admin side,” Rheinheimer said. “We fundraise and raise awareness for them.”
Rheinheimer said that due to health concerns, the Junior Ambassadors rarely directly interact with patients. However, they are still quite involved as the hospital organizes around five events each year where they help raise money for programs at the hospital, Rheinheimer said.
All proceeds from the fundraiser went to the Children’s Fund, the area of greatest need in the hospital. Rheinheimer said the Children’s Fund is primarily responsible for purchasing diapers and other key supplies. However, they also provide funds for children who need a specific area of research or care.
Members of the CHLA club volunteered to help with checkout at the bake sale. Sarah Mzoughi (’28) was one of the volunteers, and she said she initially wanted to join the club to help underprivileged communities.
“Children do not have a lot of power in their circumstances, and I think it is cruel when bad things do happen to children,” Mzoughi said. “That’s why I have a specific soft spot for when it comes to children’s health and children’s rights.”
Mzoughi said she was very willing to volunteer for the bake sale because she lives very far away from CHLA and does not have the time outside of school to volunteer directly at the hospital.
“I’m pretty good at baking, so I thought, why not just use that power for a nice cause? Because I know that these proceeds are going to a good place,” Mzoughi said. “I feel confident in giving my time, especially as someone who can’t volunteer as much as they would want to because of … where CHLA is. I feel like this is a way that I can still give them the attention that they deserve.”
Sadie Kay, a seventh grader who supported the bake sale, said she feels it is important to give support to those in need especially during the holiday season.
“It’s really important because those kids — who knows what they’re going to be doing on Hanukkah or Christmas, when I’ll be at home with my family, opening gifts,” Kay said. “I think it’s important that they can still feel love through whatever they’re going through.”
