Bake sale for Jamison Novello raises $15,000 for suicide prevention, scholarship fund

Family, friends and members of the community gathered at Kimberly McGuigan’s home in Rockville Centre on September 16 for the fifth annual bake sale fundraiser in memory of her daughter, Jamison Novello.

Novello, a passionate dance student and sophomore at South Side High School, tragically died from suicide in 2019. As a poignant tribute to her daughter, McGuigan wanted to help raise money for suicide prevention and awareness and decided to start a bake sale.

The annual tradition takes place every September, just before Jamison’s birthday, to honor her memory — and her love for sweets. This year’s event proved to be especially meaningful, as it helped raise more than $15,000 for two worthy causes.

Every dollar collected from the bake sale will go to benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, a nonprofit dedicated to mental health research, improving interventions, suicide prevention training, and advocacy for life-changing policies, and the Jamison Novello Scholarship Fund, which was established at the Broadway Dance Center in 2019.

The scholarship aims to help inner-city children who lack the financial means with an opportunity to participate in programs offered by the Broadway Dance Center. Its goal is to help these aspiring young dancers to pursue this dream and refine their skills under the guidance of the center’s world-renowned choreographers.

McGuigan expressed her gratitude for everyone who participated in this year’s fundraiser — whether they came to purchase or help sell baked goods for the cause. Thanks to their generous support, she has been able to donate more than $100,000 towards the scholarship in Jamison’s memory thus far.

She said that each year, the money raised from the bake sale has increased incrementally, even amid the challenges posed during the Covid-19 pandemic, which disrupted several events and community gatherings.

When the fundraiser began five years ago, McGuigan had the additional support of Novello’s core group of friends, however, since many of them are now away at college, she must rely on the support and dedication of her own friends and colleagues to help keep the fundraiser alive.

She said that it is thanks to these dedicated volunteers, who generously contribute their time and energy to help craft and sell delectable baked goods to the community, that she is able to continue to help raise money for the scholarship and prevention-based programs. 

In addition to the September bake sale, McGuigan also helps organize a Casino Night fundraiser, every March, to raise money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and other mental health initiatives.

To learn more about the fundraisers, the scholarship fund, and the Jamison Novello Still Sparkling Foundation visit JamisonsDream.com.