Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Hermitage, and the local branch of Aid Association for Lutherans earlier this week donated $5,000 to a Hermitage girl battling cancer.

Whitney DeSantis has not attended classes since doctors diagnosed her with the disease in January 2000. Her only appearance at school during that span was in December. Four days before Christmas, Whitney’s ninth-grade classmates showered her with gifts and affection at a Hickory High assembly.

Wednesday, the Lutheran groups presented Whitney with a check at her home. Half of the money was raised at a Chinese auction at the church; the association matched the amount.

Eight youth group members between the ages of 15 and 17 spent a couple of months soliciting auction items from area businesses, said Cary Parsons, youth director at the church. The youth members were Jayne and Jim Antel, Nathan Corning, Rick Graven, Nathan and Ryan Jones, Scott Patterson and Ron Swogger.

The showcase prize was a 46-inch television; Whitney pulled the winning ticket for the big screen at the auction. Parsons said a couple hundred people attended the auction.

Aid Association for Lutherans 9396, based in Hermitage, matched the $2,500 raised at the auction.

The local AAL, one of 11,000 branches, has donated $130,000 in matching funds and spearheaded numerous philanthropic efforts and programs since it was founded in 1993, according to recorder Martha Krizancik. AAL is headquartered in Appleton, Wisc.

Whitney’s parents were overwhelmed by the support.

"They really hustled to come up with donations like that," said Angelo DeSantis, Whitney’s father.

The DeSantises do not attend Holy Trinity and are not Lutherans. "That’s what makes it so unique. My daughter had been kind of a total outsider to their church, but those kids went so far out of their way," DeSantis said. "They should be praised for the effort. We appreciate it so much."