Daffodil sale grows funds for ACS cancer research

Author: Andrea Glaesner

In New England, daffodils are the first flowers to bloom when the snow melts, the ground thaws and spring arrives. But even before spring's official arrival on March 21, Middlebury College will see an abundance of daffodils. For some, these flowers will merely bring a nice touch of color to mud season, but for cancer patients and survivors, daffodils are a symbol of hope.

According to the Director of Alliance for Civic Engagement Tiffany Sargent, the College has sporadically participated in this fundraising effort over the past 10 years. The program was initially coordinated by Cook Professor of American Literature Brett Millier and Dean of Advising and Assistant Professor of American Literature Karl Lindholm. In recent years, the fundraiser was not held on campus, but this year Alyssa Thurston '05 single-handedly brought it back to the college community through her work on the Alliance for Civic Engagement.

Daffodil Days provided students the chance to order individual bouquets of 10 daffodils for $7 each, Gifts of Hope for $20 or boxes of 50 bouquets for $350.00 with the profits benefiting the American Cancer Society (ACS). Gifts of Hope are orders of daffodils purchased by sponsors and then given to hospitalized cancer patients. Thurston said, "The most popular orders are definitely the individual bouquets, though we've also sold a lot of Gifts of Hope, which is a really nice surprise." She also indicated that while students purchased flowers, the majority of orders came from faculty and staff members.

So, how much money will the daffodils raise for the worthy cause? "I didn't have a set goal in mind in terms of fundraising when I took this on, but I will say that the amount of orders I've gotten so far have far exceeded my initial expectations," Thurston noted.

Daffodil Days, a fundraising effort conceived by the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) in the 1950s, was adopted by the ACS in 1970. When it originated in Toronto, a group of CCS volunteers organized a fundraising tea and decorated their tables with daffodils, viewing the flowers' brilliant yellow as filling the room with sentiments of hope and faith that cancer could be defeated. Such teas became known as Daffodil Teas and the CCS's use of daffodils has not yet waned. Today, the organization is the world's largest purchaser of daffodils. British Columbian daffodil growers even schedule their planting to provide for the Society's enormous spring demand.

In the 35 years since the ACS adopted the fundraising practice, it has become one of the two largest cancer fundraising efforts in the United States, providing over $2.5 billion for research.

Many members of the Middlebury community are also avid supporters. Local resident John Meakin and his wife have been involved with Daffodil Days in Middlebury for the past decade. They began their involvement in Delaware where they raised $8,000 during their first year. Local businesses including Blossom Basket, Middlebury Natural Foods Co-Op and the Middlebury Farm Center will also sell daffodils to benefit the ACS beginning March 21.

The daffodils arrive on campus on March 16 and will be available for pick-up in the Alliance for Civic Engagement office.