Fordham Prep Student Raises 67k for St . Jude and Gets Invited to SpaceX Civilian Launch |
||||
It ’ s not every day that you get invited to watch the launch of the first ever all-civilian spaceflight in Cape Canaveral , FL . However , that day came for Fordham Prep senior Charles Reilly during the summer of his senior year . |
||||
It all started with St . Jude Children ’ s Research Hospital . Reilly was no stranger to St . Jude ’ s fundraisers , as his mom was already involved with the organization . When his mom told him about the work St . Jude does to help children , he thought to himself , “ How could I just sit around and watch Netflix all summer when I could do something more meaningful ?” |
||||
|
During his first year , he raised $ 11,000 for St . Jude . He continued to raise money every summer after that .
In 2021 , Reilly was selected to be a part of the St . Jude Leadership Society for their inaugural year . Each student in the program is given a fundraising goal of $ 2,500 .
“ Charlie has a very unique drive ,” said his supervisor Nicole Conaway . “ He set his sights higher initially .” At first , Reilly wanted to be the top high schooler in New York , but it didn ’ t take long for him to covet the number one spot in the country .
By the start of his senior year , Reilly raised a total of $ 67,000 , making him the top high schooler in the nation to raise money for the organization . “ I really had no idea I was capable of doing that ,” he said .
His strategies included door-todoor fundraising , sending out email blasts to the Fordham Prep community , and printing flyers to give out to people at the train station . Reilly was surprised as he began to see unfamiliar names on his donations list giving amounts as high as $ 500 to the cause . Other students in the program began asking him for advice .
|
One day during the summer , Conaway called Reilly ’ s mom to ask if he could have permission to fly out to Florida for a VIP all-expense paid trip to see the launch of SpaceX ’ s civilian mission , as St . Jude is the charitable beneficiary of Inspiration4 . Reilly , who was catching up on summer homework at the time , was speechless .
“ She told me that a billionaire [ Jared Isaacman ] who is going to space is paying for me to go down to Cape Canaveral . I was like , ‘ I don ’ t even know this man !’” Reilly recalls . However , Isaacman definitely knew of him and all the work he had done to raise money for St . Jude .
Reilly made the trip in September . His teachers were more than happy to let him take a few days away from his schoolwork , as this was a once in a lifetime opportunity .
The day before the launch , he was so excited that he couldn ’ t sleep . During the trip , he met fellow high school fundraiser Kayla Anderson , whose father is also in the space force , and U . S . Space Force Brigadier General Stephen G . Purdy Jr . There was also a meet and greet with the crew .
|
“ I was just a kid from New York . I didn ’ t think I deserved any of this ,” Reilly said . “ I talked to General Purdy for about an hour , maybe more . My mom said it was a lot more than an hour but it felt like just 30 minutes ,” he continued . “ We talked about what my career could be like in the U . S . Space Force — I ’ m only 17 and I was talking about what my career would be like in 20 years !”
As a Fordham Prep student , Reilly is required to participate in service projects during each of his four years . In his freshman and sophomore years , he completed group projects . As a junior and senior , he is required to perform a set number of hours . The program also includes a dedicated service class in senior year during which students reflect upon their experiences and share them with others .
The service experience at the Prep taught Reilly the importance of being a man for others , one of the core tenets of Jesuit education . “ It does feel good to help others ,” he said .
|
ABOVE LEFT : Reilly in Cape Canaveral , FL for the launch of the Inspiration4 civilian mission .
ABOVE RIGHT : Reilly poses with General Stephen G . Purdy Jr . at the Inspiration4 launch .
ABOVE BOTTOM : Reilly received an award for being the top national fundraiser for St . Jude .
|