Members of Moravian University's new student-led club, the Pawprint Project. Photo by Nick Chismar ’20
When first-year student Andrew Hoopes ’29 arrived at Moravian University last August, he didn’t just want to join a club—he wanted to start a movement to help local children and their families who are dealing with pediatric cancer.
His vision began with the Pawprint Project, a student-led organization raising money for the Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley (PCFLV). From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on April 11, the group will hold its inaugural “Pawapalooza,” an afternoon of live music from local alt-rock band Project 9, games, arts and crafts, Zumba, and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) lessons, as well as giveaways. The free event will take place at the Priscilla Payne Hurd Academic Complex patio.
The goal, organizers say, is to raise $5,000 for PCFLV while bringing together the campus community to foster a sense of unity and belonging. Members of the Pawprint Project have already raised more than $4,000 for the foundation.
“Every child deserves the ability to grow up and to become a teenager, to become an adult, and it’s really unfortunate that some kids don’t get that opportunity,” says Hoopes, president and founder of the Pawprint Project.
The money the club raises for PCFLV is intended to support families affected by pediatric cancer with everyday necessities such as grocery and utility bills, as well as transportation to hospitals. The club also provides “a sense of normalcy for these kids” by raising money for extras like birthday gifts and experiences, Hoopes says.
A first-generation college student from Glenolden, Delaware County, Hoopes is pursuing a marketing management degree. He was inspired to start the Pawprint Project at Moravian University after drawing on his previous volunteer experience serving in leadership roles in his high school’s annual fundraising event for pediatric cancer.
Modeled after Penn State’s THON, Interboro High School’s Bucs-a-Thon—the school’s mascot is a Buccaneer—raised $50,000 for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia during the three years Hoopes participated.
“It was so rewarding,” he says, while admitting that the process of putting on the event was stressful at times. “It united the entire student body and community for such a big and important cause that’s often lost in the background. It was really amazing, boosted morale in the school, and brought awareness to the community.”
Hoopes envisioned participating in a similar event at Moravian. After visiting the Engagement Fair during his first Accepted Students Day last year and finding out that there wasn’t already a club running a fundraiser quite like Bucs-a-Thon, he knew he wanted to do it himself. So, he created the Pawprint Project, named for Moravian’s mascot, Amos the Greyhound.
Hoopes says the club brings together the student body and unites the broader community. “Helping people get involved with something that’s bigger than themselves is a big passion of mine. I’ve always been very passionate about service, leadership, and helping others,” he says.
Caley Bittner, PCFLV’s marketing and communications coordinator, says the Allentown-based nonprofit has been “blown away” by Hoopes’s efforts.
“We’re quite impressed with Andrew, and we’re so grateful that he chose PCFLV to be the beneficiary of this event,” she says, adding that the money raised will have a “massive impact” for the organization’s programming. Each year, PCFLV runs Camp Smile, a weeklong camp for kids with cancer, their siblings, as well as its Back to School Bash, where cancer warriors are given personalized backpacks and school supplies, then enjoy a party with a bounce house, balloons, and more.
“But, there are [also] smaller events that are constant and ongoing throughout the year, and absolutely, these funds are crucial to keep us up and running,” Bittner says.
The PCFLV, which has been running for 22 years, has provided financial, emotional, and social support programs and services to more than 400 registered families, all living within 50 miles of Allentown, she says. The foundation adds an average of 35 families each year.
“When you have a child facing pediatric cancer, your life changes overnight when you get that diagnosis,” Bittner says. “We jump in right away and let them know they aren’t alone.”
In its first year, the Pawprint Project has 25 students on its leadership team, in addition to 60 club members.
One of those students is Christopher Whalen ’29, a first-year historical studies major who serves as Engagement Committee chair. His role in the event is engaging the student body and local community.
“Overall, the goal is just trying to, quite simply, engage with the community, get people involved, and spread positive awareness—spreading positivity,” Whalen says, describing the club and its leadership team as “one big hug.”
“The way that people support you, the way that people want the best from you, the collective effort that this whole thing really is, it’s good for the soul. . . . I feel like there’s only a handful of communities that I really felt this feeling with, when it’s just all these amazing people with just awesome positivity, lots of love, lots of connection.”
The Pawprint Project has already hosted events on campus aimed at increasing awareness of pediatric cancer and boosting involvement, including workshops focused on making holiday cards and origami hearts, all for hospitalized children.
For Pawapalooza, funds are raised by student participants through CrowdChange, an online fundraising platform. A student who raises $50 will gain VIP status at the event, earning perks such as a free T-shirt, food, and entry in the giveaways—including four tickets to an Iron Pigs game—as well as unlimited access to activities. Donations can be made through the project’s CrowdChange page.
Katie P. Desiderio, a professor of management and assistant vice president for organizational learning and leadership, is the club’s faculty advisor. She says Moravian gives students like Hoopes “a learning lab to be able to build, shape, and create things with the support of the university structure.
“As Andrew is bringing this project to life, there’s so much learning that is happening for him as a leader,” Desiderio says, adding that Hoopes has worked hard to build a partnership between the PCFLV and the Pawapalooza fundraiser.
“There’s just so much about this event and Moravian that encourages these transformative leadership experiences for students, and for our community, that allow for really deep, rich reciprocity of learning and work that’s being done,” Desiderio says. “It’s just a beautiful thing to be able to experience and be part of.” —Molly Bilinski
For more information on the Pawprint Project, visit instagram.com/mu_pawprint/ or send an email to pawprint@moravian.edu.