Cancer Society Sells Flowers To Raise Funds Funds Money

The American Cancer Society’s (ACS) Daffodil Days at Harvard helped raise $33,710 for cancer research last month.

Nearly 100 Faculty, staff and students helped sell 5,600 of the $6 bouquets during the annual fundraiser.

The flowers themselves will brighten campus offices when they are delivered on March 18.

“[The fundraiser] has been a great way to make Harvard feel like a small place. People have been more enthusiastic than I could have imagine,” said Holly Casserly, a staff assistant in the Office of Government, Community and Public Affairs and this year’s Daffodil Days coordinator for Harvard.

Carole Lee, who recently retired from Harvard, had been the coordinator for the last six years.

During her first few years, Lee, along with family and friends, delivered all of the bouquets herself. Now, the Harvard University Mail Service delivers the bouquets free of charge.

Harvard’s version of the national ACS Daffodil Days fundraiser began when then-Associate Director of Media Communiations Rita Corkery, who had survived breast cancer, first raised money in 1988. She raised about $2,500.

Since then, Harvard’s efforts have netted over $300,000 for the ACS.

“This disease does not discriminate by education, class, or location,” said Helene Palmer, ACS regional coordinator. “Everybody knows somebody, and this is a fun and easy way to raise money for them.”

Students will be able to buy bouquets from the Harvard Cancer Society during the week of March 18.