Community Corner

Teen Raises Thousands for Local Nonprofit One Candy Bar at a Time

Chris Norton, of Hauppauge, has raised more than $2,000 for Angela's House by selling candy bars in Hauppauge's industrial park offices.

A Hauppauge teen has raised over $2,000 dollars for a local charity, selling one candy bar at a time.

Chris Norton, a 2011 graduate of Hauppauge High School, has raised the money for the local nonprofit Angela’s House by selling candy bars in Hauppauge industrial park offices. As he plans to attend college this fall, he’s laid plans to ensure the fundraiser continues.

“I know that it’s a good cause and it’s always something I liked helping out for,” Norton said.

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The teenager said he learned of Angela’s House while playing sports alongside Joe, the son of Bob Policastro who founded the organization. Angela’s House is a nonprofit that helps families with severely disabled children received medical services and support at home. It has permanent homes for children in Smithtown and East Meadow.

Bob Policastro said Norton has volunteered at various fundraisers for the nonprofit over years, but about a year and a half ago called him to saying “he wanted to do something special.”

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The teen said he was inspired by the candy bar fundraisers that sports teams and clubs run at Hauppauge High School, where students sell bars of popular candies for $1 to $2 a piece. Norton said he came up with the idea of leaving a box of candy behind in a business office, like a charitable vending machine.

Norton purchased industrial shipping containers and designed labels for his “Sweet Donations” campaign. Then he to BJ Wholesale Club to pick out an assortment of candy and fill four boxes to distribute to Quoizel, Active Web Group, Thread Check and Diamond Fasteners.

“I went around to different companies, asking if I could leave a box of candy in their common area,” he said. “A lot of companies weren’t willing to participate. It was a struggle to get some companies to sign up.”

Norton said refilled the candy boxes every two weeks, collecting money raised and changing stock. Over the past year and a half, he raised $1,200 in donations for Angela’s House.

“It’s amazing to see that a student put themselves out like this,” said Policastro, who said he’s rarely if ever received a donation so large from a high school student.

It wasn’t enough for Norton. Knowing he was handing off the fundraiser to his cousin Mack Forde, a senior year at Smithtown High School East, he arranged for a restaurant night fundraiser at T.G.I. Friday’s on Veterans Highway.

“I knew I was handing it over, and I wanted to do one more thing to go out with a bang,” Norton said.

Fridays agreed to give 25 percent of each purchase to Angela’s House when diners presented a flyer. A single Sunday event at Fundraisers raised an additional $1,000 for the charity.

“I wish I could have raised more money. It’s something I believe pretty firmly in,” Norton said. 

He plans to continue his education at Villanova University this fall. 


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