Former Notre Dame women’s basketball standout Hannah Hidalgo returned to her hometown of Camden this week, carrying a shipment of 150 children’s books destined for the pediatric wing of Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital.
A Homecoming of Hope
The donation, organized through Hidalgo’s charitable initiative Hannah’s Helping Hands, seeks to close a gap in book access for young patients and families served by the hospital’s Pediatric Mobile Services across Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties.
A three‑time All‑American and ESPY‑nominated player who once set an NCAA record with 16 steals in a single game, Hidalgo reflected on the gesture, noting that “stories open doors just as much as scholarships do.”
During her visit she toured the still‑under‑construction mother and baby ward, meeting nurses who had cared for her as a newborn 21 years earlier. She embraced Lorraine Harris, the nurse practitioner who delivered her in February 2005, and signed miniature basketballs for the children waiting in the hallway.
The act underscores a personal commitment to youth empowerment, as Hidalgo, who graduated from Paul VI High School with a record 2,135 points, continues to leverage her platform to address educational inequities.
Hidalgo’s book drive is part of a broader effort to cultivate a love of reading among underserved children, a mission she says will shape the next generation of leaders.