On April 22, St. Thomas Aquinas High School hosted its annual Charity Game, bringing senior students and staff together for an event filled with competition, school spirit, and an impactful cause. This year’s event supported the Mystic Force Foundation, an organization committed to raising awareness and funding research for less toxic, more effective treatments for children battling cancer while also ensuring that children in treatment remain as happy as possible.
The foundation was founded in 2008 by Dr. Steven and Silvia Vanni after their four-year-old son, Salatore, was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma cancer. Since then, their mission has inspired communities to step in and make a difference. STA’s initiative to step up started about 15 years ago when the first charity game was introduced to the students and faculty. Because of this powerful difference, this year’s charity event raised over $1,000 to support the cause.
The games themselves were full of excitement and friendly rivalry. In volleyball, the female senior students came out strong on top, defeating the female staff in two sets. Meanwhile, the ping pong match saw the teachers take the win over the students. One of the biggest highlights of the day was the half court shot, successfully made by Ronneshia Thomas, which came with a brand new 40 inch flat screen TV. The final matchup between the male seniors and male staff was a close one, with the staff barely winning by just one point.
Beyond the scores, the impact of the event was felt by everyone involved. “The charity game was a great success not because of who won but because of who we helped,” said Mr. Adam Aloma. Though, there was a bit of tension or extreme drive on the court between the seniors and the faculty. Even the referee Steve Cisneros noted the intensity of the competition, saying “As referee this was probably one of the most competitive games I’ve seen in years, and it appears that Adam Aloma ages in reverse.”
While the games brought plenty of excitement, the true victory was the community coming together for the greater good of service. Through teamwork, generosity, and a willful spirit, STA has proven that when people unite together for a cause, the impact goes far beyond the scoreboard.
