The Chestnut Hill community came together for a good cause on Feb. 8, supporting a young girl's efforts to raise money for charity.

Glenside resident Hadley Dufner says her 8-year-old daughter Betsy suggested setting up a hot chocolate stand so she could donate the proceeds to the Darren Daulton Foundation, an organization that provides financial assistance to individuals and families suffering from primary malignant brain tumors.

The foundation is especially meaningful to the Dufner family. When Betsy's father was diagnosed with brain cancer this past summer, the organization provided them with a grant to help pay the bills, even covering the cost of their mortgage one month.

"[That] took a huge load off of our shoulders going into the holidays with three young kids," says Dufner. "That was why we decided to pay the kindness forward."

According to Lisa Howe, Betsy's grandmother and owner of Artisans on the Avenue, these efforts by her granddaughter are special for someone so young.

"It's very good to instill that sense of giving back and sense of community for a child," says Howe. "You can't force that. [Betsy] came up with it herself."

With the plan established, Dufner and her daughter went about buying supplies for the hot chocolate stand. Howe says she brought 120 cups, thinking they would not all be used. She had no idea of how successful the event would turn out to be.

After setting up shop in the courtyard lent by Team Whetzel Kurfiss Sotheby's Realty office in Chestnut Hill, Betsy soon received her first customer of the day. He was the father of a teacher at Betsy's school, Copper Beech Elementary. According to Howe, the man gave $160 right off the bat. Before long, many more customers followed, despite the freezing temperatures.

"All of my friends and all of [Dufner's] friends, as well as shop owners and all sorts of people came out," says Howe. "People were coming out of the woodwork."

Word about the stand spread quickly around the Chestnut Hill business community, and several companies decided to help out. The clothing store J.McLaughlin and the embroidery store Threadwell both decided to donate part of their proceeds that day to the foundation's fundraiser. Howe also made sure to do the same from her boutique, Artisans on the Avenue. Despite working that day, she made time to witness the special event happening right across Germantown Avenue.

"I was working across [the avenue] at my store, but I was running back and forth," said Howe.

Other local business owners caught word of the sale and sent envelopes full of donations, including Anne McNally from McNally's Tavern and Kathy Provost from Kathy Provost Jewelry + Design. Zipf's Candies was another business that contributed.

Cindy Webster, an Oreland resident and "loyal Artisans customer" according to Dufner, works alongside the Darren Daulton Foundation as a consultant and helped connect the family with the organization. Webster was present on the day of the fundraiser to support Betsy.

Overall, after a total of 13 gallons of hot chocolate, Betsy raised roughly $9,500 for the charity through in-person donations and Venmo from those who couldn't attend. Dufner says this experience emphasized the generosity of the Chestnut Hill community.

"[Chestnut Hill] is a very supportive, loving community that's great to be a part of," said Dufner.

As for Betsy? 

It is safe to say that Dufner is impressed.

"She's an awesome 8-year-old that kicked butt and raised a lot of money," said Dufner.