The Sophie Fund expresses its gratitude to the musicians who performed at the 9th Annual Ithaca Cupcake Baking Contest on October 19: SingTrece & Kenneth McLaurin, Rachel Beverly, and Joe Gibson & Dan Collins. Thank you for always lending your voices to the mental health mission in our community!
SingTrece and Kenneth McLaurin
Rachel Beverly
Dan Collins and Joe Gibson
The Sophie Fund extends our sincere appreciation to the finalist judges of the 9th Annual Ithaca Cupcake Baking Contest on October 19. Besides volunteering to serve, they baked up some treats of their own—500 cookies—to pass out to contestants, volunteers, audience members, and passersby in the Ithaca Commons. Thank you Yuko Jingu of Akemi Food; Ashley Case of Case Sera Sera; Racquel Riccardi of the Sinfully Delicious Baking Co.; Melissa Kenny of Sweet Melissa’s Ice Cream Shop; and Via Carpenter of Via’s Cookies.
VIP Judges Racquel Riccardi and Via Carpenter
Cookies by Ashley Case of Case Sera Sera
Drum roll for VIP Judges Susan Hack, Via Carpenter, and Yuko Jingu
The Sophie Fund extends its gratitude and deep thanks to Visions Federal Credit Union, Cayuga Health System, and Maguire Family of Dealerships for supporting the 9th Annual Ithaca Cupcake Baking Contest. Thank you for once again championing the mental health mission in our community!
Cornell University students from four campus organizations volunteered to work at the 9th Annual Ithaca Cupcake Baking Contest, an event to raise awareness about mental health, and collected donations in The Sophie Fund’s related Cupcake Button fundraising campaign for mental health.
All smiles performing community service with The Sophie Fund
Participating groups included Cornell Circle K, Pre-Professional Association Toward Careers in Health (PATCH), Alpha Phi Omega–Gamma Chapter, and Cornell Minds Matter.
The students arrived for the October 19 event practically at the crack of dawn at the Bernie Milton Pavilion in the Commons. They set up the contest, registered contestants, participated in the judging, created awards certificates, connected with community mental health partners, and cleaned up the event space afterwards.
Volunteers getting ready to welcome the contestants
A bonus in volunteering with The Sophie Fund: tasting dozens of delicious cupcakes
The students spent the previous two weeks collecting donations for the Ithaca Free Clinic, which provides medical and other health services to clients regardless of their ability to pay. The Sophie Fund organizes the Cupcake Button campaign every year to support Ithaca mental health nonprofits.
Ithaca Free Clinic Executive Director Norbert McCloskey briefs Cornell students on the clinic’s work
Speaking at the Awards Ceremony, Co-President of Cornell Minds Matter Zoey Preza described her organization’s efforts to support student mental health on the campus.
She said CMM organizes free yoga and Zumba classes, and hands out self-care kits to students during prelims and finals “especially when we know students will be a little more stressed.” CMM will host a “Dining with Diverse Minds” gala featuring free food and speakers promoting mental health. She noted that CMM has worked to facilitate relationships between students and Cornell administrators.
Cornell Minds Matter President Zoey Preza speaks at the Awards Ceremony
Early shift for the Cornell volunteers
Thank you, Cornell student mental health advocates!
What fun we had! Here’s a slideshow from the 9th Annual Ithaca Cupcake Baking Contest, held in the Ithaca Commons on October 19, 2024.
Registration Team for 9th Annual Ithaca Cupcake Baking Contest
Countdown to a contest in the Commons
Hailey Ayres entering her “Apple to the Spice Cupcakes”
Entering Jackie Rumsey’s “Caramel Apple Cupcakes”
Marina Mahashin entering her prize-winning “Rasmalai Tres Leches Cupcakes”
Pragadeeshwaran Sivasamy entering his “Chai Cupcakes”
Mom-and-daughter team Julia & Renee Bauer registering their “Autumn Tea Party Cupcakes”
Keeley Firinne’s “Strawpurry Catcakes”
Savannah Ventura-Ewing’s “Carrot Collision Cupcakes“
From Wilfred Race’s half-dozen “Whimsical Halloween Nostalgia Cupcakes”
Ayami Yamaguchi’s “Sweet Harmony Cupcakes”
Gamay Hudson Paxton entering the “Swim Team Cupcakes”
Alpha Kappa Psi’s “Mindful Mudcake Cupcakes”
Katy Holloway’s “Waiting for Spring Cupcakes”
“Let the judging begin!”
Cornell University students judging an early round of the contest
Marina Mahashin receives the 2nd Place Award for her “Rasmalai Tres Leches Cupcakes”
Nine-time contestant Aušra Milano’s receives a 2024 Honorable Mention Award
Aušra Milano’s “All Things Orange Cupcakes”
Alecia Sundsmo receives an Honorable Mention Award for her “Summer Reprise Cupcakes”
Grace Qi receives the 3rd Place Award
Grace Qi’s “Harvest Caramel Apple Cupcakes”
Isabel Perkins receives the Special Youth Award
Isabel Perkins’s “Dream Cupcakes”
Miles Rosenberg receives the Let’s Break the Mint Award for his “Mint Craft Cupcakes”
Volunteers Coordinator Addyson Wells
Contest Production Team
Thanks to the generous contest sponsors: VISIONS Federal Credit Union, Cayuga Health, and Maguire
The Sophie Fund’s information table
Thanks to the Downtown Ithaca Alliance!
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