Student Fundraiser
Cathedral High School is proud to announce the Ignite the Irish Student Fundraiser! We are excited that the student fundraiser has been such a huge success the last several years. Cathedral students will utilize personal online fundraising pages to raise money to support our tuition assistance program as well as a philanthropy fund that can be used by the student body to provide assistance to deserving groups of their choice. We believe learning to give back is an important part of a young person’s education which helps establish a lifelong connection with philanthropy. Our overall goal is to raise at least $275,000 this year. After raising $170,000 to support tuition assistance, all money raised through Ignite the Irish will go to support the clubs/sports/student activities selected by the students.
Here’s how it works:
Each student is provided the opportunity to raise a minimum of $250 through their personal online fundraising page to support the school and the student organizations they love. As a special incentive, students will also be able to earn a “Free Day” from school on Tuesday, November 24, 2026 for reaching or exceeding the $250 goal. Additionally, students who reach the benchmark of raising $150 (or 60%) toward their goal amount, they will be permitted to dress out of uniform in jeans/sweatpants/yoga pants and a spirit shirt. Dress down days for those that have reached that benchmark are September 8 through October 2nd. There are also prizes that will be given to the top student fundraisers and to classes that have great participation.
*** NEW THIS YEAR: If the entire school raises a collective $300,000 by October 9th at 3:15pm, all students will have a "Free Day" from school on Tuesday, November 24, 2026.
Should the school-wide $300,000 goal be unmet, any student that does not raise at least $250 by October 9, 2026 will fulfill their student philanthropy requirement by serving the school and community during Philanthropy Day on Tuesday, November 24, 2026.
Students will receive more details on how to access their personal fundraising page during Advisory on September 4th, via email, and in the student newsletter.
Important Details:
* Ignite the Irish Student Fundraiser will run from September 4 - October 9, 2026.
* Students can elect to support up to two Cathedral student activities. Student must make these selections using the Google form emailed to them. Forms will not be accepted after September 11th.
* Classrooms will have an opportunity to win weekly prizes throughout the campaign based on highest percentage of students having met their fundraising goal.
* Students earn dress down days (spirit shirt/jeans/sweatpants/yoga pants) after raising $150 (or 60% of their goal amount). Dress down days begin on September 8th for those that have raised at least $150 and conclude on October 2nd.
* Students may earn a Free Day from school on Tuesday, November 24, 2026 when they raise a minimum of $250. If the school-wide goal of $300,000 is met, all students will have a Free Day on November 24, 2026.
Multi-student details
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Families with multiple students at Cathedral (in the same household) will have their total family fundraising goal adjusted based on the following schedule.
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2 current students - $400 minimum per family
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3+ current students - $500 minimum per family
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Once a student raises a minimum of $250 or the $300,000 school-wide goal is reached, he or she will receive:
Free Day
All students who meet the goal of raising at least $250 will qualify for this prize. The designated "free day" for students who raise at least $250 is Tuesday, November 24, 2026.
Spirit shirt and jeans/sweatpants/yoga pants
As soon as a student has raised $150 (or 60% of their minimum goal), he or she will be able to dress in a Cathedral spirit top and sweat pants/jeans/yoga pants. Dress down days for students who have met or surpassed 60% of their fundraising goal begin on September 8th and run through Friday, October 2, 2026. Students will have a special mark in PowerSchool that will tell educators that they have earned dress down privileges.
We encourage all students to enjoy an additional week out of uniform by dressing in the theme for each day during Homecoming/Spirit Week - October 5th - 9th. Ignite the Irish dress down will end on October 2nd and any student that is not in uniform or dressed in the Homecoming theme of the day beginning October 5th will be referred to Student Services.
All students are eligible to designate money to their Cathedral club/sport/activity of choice:
A portion of the money each student raises will be given back to their Cathedral club/sport/activity of choice. Students may select a maximum of two approved activities to receive a portion of their fundraising efforts. In essence, the more money raised, the more funding that clubs/sports/activities will receive from the student fundraiser. Students MUST use the Google Form given to them via email on August 19th to select their choice(s). There will be no change in designation after September 11th at 11:59pm.
Money collection information:
We encourage all fundraising to take place online using each student's personal fundraising page. Should someone give a check donation, students can give those to Mrs. Jean Smith '97 (or any Advancement Team member) in the Advancement Office (across from Counseling, next to Campus Ministry).
Note: We strongly encourage parents to make the donation online or if absolutely necessary, write a check in lieu of sending their student in with cash. This helps with our accounting process and minimizes risks for mistakes.
What to do if you have difficulty meeting your goal:
Cathedral has a community food pantry, St. Nick's Nook, that you can help stock and we will be partnering with St. Andre projects to collect new or gently used coats or blankets.
* Earn $10.00 toward your goal by bringing in a new or gently used coat (adults, kids, babies). Bring the coats to the Advancement office and that also can count towards your goal.
* Earn $10.00 toward your goal for every 5 items from THIS LIST. Bring the food pantry items to Mrs. Smith in the Advancement office - and that also can count towards your goal!
* Students will receive credit for a maximum of $30.00 toward their goal for donations of coats, blankets or food items for the pantry.
Questions/Comments:
If you have any questions about the fundraiser, contact Jean Smith '97, Director of Lifelong Connections, at jesmith@gocathedral.com.