Hailey Gojkovich Awarded Philanthropy Award After Bake Sale
On October 16th, 2022, Hailey Gojkovich held her eighth annual bake sale, raising money to buy toys for children in the hospital. The Gojkovich's bake sale has grown since it started in 2015 and has collectively raised over 13,000 dollars for local hospitals. The third year of the fundraiser, Gojkovich realized that the bake sale had grown too big to run on her own. She recruited two friends, Mallory Kell and Natalie Becker, to help her. Senior Mallory Kell stated, "[The bake sale] shows support not only from us, but also from the community, to donate to people in need." Kell and Becker have participated in the bake sale every year since then, and now more people than ever help Gojkovich with baking. This year, they recruited three families, all assigned to make their own dessert, and raised 2,584 dollars.
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On October 16th, 2022, Hailey Gojkovich held her eighth annual bake sale, raising money to buy toys for children in the hospital. Gojkovich started her bake sale at ten years old when she was inspired by her father’s involvement in the Children’s Miracle Network and encouraged by her passion for baking. Gojkovich stated, “My parents always taught me the importance of giving back, and that’s something that’s always been prevalent in our family.” That first year, Gojkovich teamed up with her younger sister, Riley Gojkovich, and her mother, Heidi Gojkovich. Together they collected 565 dollars and went to Target to buy toys, which they brought to Mercy One and the Blank Children’s Hospital.
The Gojkovich’s bake sale has grown since it started in 2015 and has collectively raised over 13,000 dollars for local hospitals. The third year of the fundraiser, Gojkovich realized that the bake sale had grown too big to run on her own. She recruited two friends, Mallory Kell and Natalie Becker, to help her. Senior Mallory Kell stated, “[The bake sale] shows support not only from us, but also from the community, to donate to people in need.” Kell and Becker have participated in the bake sale every year since then, and now more people than ever help Gojkovich with baking. This year, they recruited three families, all assigned to make their own dessert, and raised 2,584 dollars.
About one month after their most recent bake sale, Hailey and Riley Gojkovich were granted the Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). This award recognized the work the Gojkovich girls dedicated to their bake sale and its impact on their community. Gojkovich certainly enhanced Iowans’ lives, and her hard work toward helping others is being put to good use. After the bake sale, Gojkovich brought toys for the Blank Children’s Hospital and Mercy One Hospital with the raised money. There, they are given to the children and help stressful situations for a kid seem less scary. Joan Bindel, the Vice President of Philanthropy at Mercy One Hospital, stated, “It’s very memorable for a child to receive a toy while they’re in the hospital, and when they leave the hospital, they have positive memories.”
Hailey Gojkovich intends to continue her philanthropy work and give back to her community now that she is leaving for college. She plans to get a philanthropy and nonprofit management certificate at the University of Iowa.