Derby Student's Christmas Spirit Impacts Entire School [VIDEO]

Unlike most middle school children her age, Regan O'Donnell is not thinking about receiving presents this holiday season.

Instead the eight grader is in the spirit of giving.  Since the summer, Regan has been constantly thinking of giving to the sick patients at the Children’s Hospital Boston.

Regan, a 13-year-old Cohasset resident was the recipient of Derby Academy’s Edward R. Foley Citizenship Prize, which is awarded each spring to a seventh grade student who exhibits the best principles of respect and kindness to others.

Andrea Archer, Head of School at Derby Academy said  Regan was selected by the academy’s faculty for her leadership abilities. 

As the recipient of the award, Regan was given $2,500 budget to conduct a school-wide service project to benefit a cause of her choice. Regan was also required to include all of her classmates in the project.

“We really believe the kids learn a tremendous amount from giving back to the community,” Archer said.

Regan along with Derby’s Class of 2012 have decided to create Christmas ornaments and sell them throughout the community.  All of the money raised from the ornaments will benefit the Children's Hospital's Activity Fund, which pays for non-medical expenses for the patients.

“It will pay for books and toys and magic shows,” Regan said.  “I was just thinking of what it would be like if I had to be in the hospital and I feel like those toys and all those things would be the most important when you’re there.”

Regan has been planning the project since the summer. She  invited the 45 students from Derby’s entire eight grade class to her Cohasset home to hand paint 400 ornaments and  are currently selling them  for $15 each. She has also created a brochure and order form for customers. She has presented the brochures all over the school and passed out the order forms to students and faculty.

Regan’s goal was to raise $5,000 from the project, but with the help of separate donations from parents, neighbors, friends and family she has already exceeded her goal and has raised a total of over $8,000.

“It’s been an incredible success,” Archer said. “She has done an amazing job of presenting it and following through with the project.  There has been a phenomenal buy-in from the whole eight grade class.”

Regan has also purchased two Christmas Trees that are present on the Derby campus so everyone in the school is reminded of the project when they see it.

“I picked a holiday tree because I wanted a strong visual, where people could go up to it and see that they are making a difference,” Regan said.  “I feel like with this project you actually get your own ornament that can symbolize what you gave.”

Regan is currently applying to private high schools and although she doesn’t know exactly she wants to do in the future, she said plans to start her own charity.