Hill School students raise money for Edgewood Cemetery

POTTSTOWN » Edgewood Cemetery was the ultimate winner of a raffle put together by Hill School students eager to give back to Pottstown.

Earlier this fall, Bella Patel of Chester Springs, Hill ‘22, approached Cathy Skitko, Hobart’s Run’s communications director and the school’s community service program liaison, to say she had heard about the challenge of raising funds toward Edgewood’s $20,000-a-year groundskeeping costs.

She wondered how she could motivate students to contribute to this effort. After brainstorming with friends, she decided to organize a raffle. Her team included classmates Chelsea Mills, North Potomac, Md.; Callie Connelly, Elverson, and Anna Lignelli, Pottstown.

Faculty, staff, and Hill parents donated about 20 beautifully assembled, themed baskets filled with spa day supplies, board games, snacks, Christmas items, coffee, and other treats.

The girls sold tickets for the raffle and Bingo cards during a recent Saturday night campus game event supported by Hill’s Student Activities office. Between ticket sales and donations, the girls raised $927 — enough to kick off the cemetery’s mowing season in the spring, with a bit to spare.

“This effort was so impressive,” said a surprised Andrew Monastra, president of the Edgewood board, adding that the students “are a credit to their school, and to those who raised them.”

“The cemetery is a beautiful, historic place,” noted Bella, who knew Hill’s founder, the Rev. Matthew Meigs, is at rest on its grounds. “The fundraiser was our way to provide Edgewood with assistance.”

“With restrictions on activities requiring personal contact, we, as students, can’t do much to volunteer in town, other than fundraise,” said Anna, who has helped at past community spruce-up days at Edgewood. “It was incredible to see The Hill community so willing to support this cause, even though it’s not a concern that relates to their everyday lives.”

Do you belong to an organization or business team willing to hold a fundraiser for Edgewood? All of their maintenance expenses must be covered through donations, which are taxdeductible. Contact Andrew at ajmonastra@gmail.com or 484-459-5412 if you can help, or send a donation to

Edgewood Cemetery to 740 E. High St., Pottstown, PA 19464.

SUBMITTED PHOTO From left, Chelsea Mills, Anna Lignelli, Callie Connelly, and Bella Patel dressed as The Incredibles on Halloween, seen here with a sample of baskets that were donated.

SANDI YANISKO/THE HILL SCHOOL Hill students competed at Bingo to win the gift baskets.