Varsity Spirit and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Honor Top “Team Up for St. Jude Spirited by Varsity” Fundraisers

April 5, 2017

Memphis, Tenn. – For the sixth year in a row, members of ten U.S. high school cheerleading and dance squads who raised the most funds for the “Team Up For St. Jude Spirited By Varsity” campaign were invited to visit the hospital.  To date, the partnership has raised more than $4.2 million dollars for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® so it can continue leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

Top fundraisers in 2016 included:

Tuerlings Catholic High School in Lafayette, Louisiana

Dutchtown High School in Geismar, Louisiana

Brookwood School in Thomasville, Georgia

Presbyterian Christian High School in Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Vanderbilt Catholic High School in Houma, Louisiana

Oak Ridge High School in Conroe, Texas

Cleveland High School in Cleveland, Mississippi

Neville High School in Monroe, Louisiana

Our Lady of Mercy School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Madison Central High School in Madison, Mississippi

The teams’ visit included dinner at a local restaurant, a special arts and crafts session at the St. Jude Target House, a tour of the world renowned hospital and a recognition lunch where each team was honored for their participation. The teams also performed a routine for the patients and visitors at the hospital.

Varsity Spirit, the leader in instructional cheerleading and dance team camps, competitions and apparel, first teamed up with St. Jude in 2011 to challenge its 350,000 cheerleading and dance team camp attendees, along with all Varsity Spirit employees, to help raise money for the hospital.  During Varsity Spirit summer camps, all incoming participants are asked to bring five addresses with them to camp of family and friends to send donation letters on behalf of St. Jude in the hope of raising donations. Every camper who brings five letters to camp will receive a special “Team Up for St. Jude” pin.

“The funds raised for St. Jude illustrate the power that cheerleaders and dancers have to make a difference in the lives of others,” said Nicole Lauchaire, Vice President of Corporate Marketing and Communications at Varsity Spirit. “These athletes do more than just lead their schools; they are leaders in their communities as well. We’re incredibly proud of the work they’ve done to raise not only dollars, but awareness for St. Jude.”

Varsity Spirit has re-committed to St. Jude for the 2017 camp season and will continue the successful letter-writing campaign.

For more information, please visit StJude.org/Varsity and click “Varsity Summer Camp.”