Kids Who Care
Yeshivah of Flatbush High School
Long Beach Catholic Regional School
Jeff Numark
Jenny Hynes
Bryan Schonfeld
Yeshivah of Flatbush High School
After seeing the New York Yankees and Duane Reade's successful "Strike Out ALS" campaign, Yeshivah of Flatbush High School students decided that they wanted to contribute to the fight against ALS. In honor of Linda Mandelbaum, a PALS and secretary of the YOF college guidance department, the students organized a basketball/soccer tournament, soliciting sponsors from local merchants and families and charging $20 per student to participate on a team. By the tournament's start on May 16, the students had raised over $7,000 for ALS.
Prior to the tournament, the students gathered at the Joel Braverman High School for a pre-game ceremony, where Marie Levy, one of the student organizers read a letter from Ms. Mandelbaum, saying, "You are young and have the power to have an enormous impact on ALS research. In addition, this game is a celebration of life for all of you that wake up in the morning and can actually speak the words 'Modeh Anee' [a prayer thanking God upon waking], can get dressed for yourselves and come to school with determination to succeed. I am moved beyond words by your coming together for this important project and signing up so many teachers, friends and sponsors."
Many thanks to Mrs. Sara Ovadia, faculty advisor of the Yeshivah's Tzedakah (Charity) Commission, the families and merchants that sponsored the tournament - the Shrem family, Richard and Jane Rudy, Steve and Michelle Sasson, Glori and Meir Cohen and family, Bagel Hole, Jerusalem II Pizza, Kosher Subway, Netanya Fast Food and Restaurant, Glatt Zone, Ave. J Stores, Pizza Time, Blueswitch, and Circa. Students involved in the organization of the event were tournament organizers Eric Setton and Abie Cohen, Tzedakah Commission heads Morris Shalom and Marie Levy; assistant commissioners Joseph Harary and Isaac Sasson; Ralph Zirdok, Bobbie Salame, Vivian Abramson, Noam Benamy, Aline Elmann and Charlie Shrem.
For more information about the New York Yankee and Duane Reade "Strike Out ALS" Campaign, click HERE.
Long Beach Catholic Regional School
Long Beach Catholic Regional School encourages its students to give back to the community. Led by Principal, Ms. Danca and teacher, Ms. Tursi, the school selects a charity each year for a lesson in fundraising and giving. To honor teacher, Ms. Batus' mother, a PALS, the school selected The ALS Association as the charity to benefit from its fundraising.
Greater New York Chapter Executive Director, Jackie Reinhard, visited the school to educate the students about ALS and kick off the week-long fundraising activities, which brought in over $6,500. The top fundraisers were brothers, 4th grader, Teddy and 2nd grader, Kiernan Reinhard, whose grandfather, Theodore Reinhard, died of ALS (No relation to Jackie Reinhard).
To close the fundraising event, Ms. Batus read a letter from her mother, Antoinette (Nettie) Percudani, to the students. Nettie thanked the students for their hard work and dedication to supporting people living with ALS by saying, "Thank you, once again, for the monies raised for the ALS Association. I pray that one day there will be a cure so that people won't have to suffer. It makes me smile to think that because of me, in some small way, you have helped that dream."
Many thanks to Ms. Danca, Ms. Tursi, Ms. Batus and the students of Long Beach Catholic High School for their support in the fight against ALS.
To read Nettie's letter to the Long Beach Catholic Regional School's students, please click here.
Jeff Numark
After seeing his cousin, PALS, Lance Herner, confined to a wheelchair in a nursing home, high school junior, Jeff Numark was inspired to take action.
After an online search, Jeff and his mother stumbled upon the website for Chores-for-Charity, which encourages middle and high school aged students to turn their part-time, summer, babysitting and odd jobs into community service by donating part of the proceeds to a charity of their choice. Jeff explains, "Instead of just donating money directly to The ALS Association, Chores for Charity provides students with extra incentive to contribute because they will receive recognition for community service. In other words, any 'unpaid' hours worked are considered 'volunteer' hours worked by Chores-for-Charity."
Jeff encourages students to become involved with Chores-for-Charity because, "A student contributing his or her own money to charitable organizations shows an outstanding amount of philanthropy and maturity at a young age. Beyond that, charities depend on large support bases from people of all ages to be successful and to make a difference. If young people donate and become involved, they can help solidify the support that is necessary for researchers to come closer to finding a cure, or in the meantime, offer aid to those suffering from ALS."
Visit Jeff Numark and the Chores-for-Charity table at the Saddle Brook Walk to D'Feet ALS on June 3rd for more information about participating in Chores-for-Charity or visit www.choresforcharity.com.
Jenny Hynes
On February 13th, Jenny Hynes was honored by State Senator Martin Golden (R-22) with a resolution to honor her efforts, which included raising funds for the Greater New York Chapter. Jenny, a 2006 graduate of Public School 222, rasied funds with the help of her teacher, Ms. Trinka, by selling "Never Give Up" bracelets, paper baseballs and raffling off Walk to D'Feet ALS tee shirts.
In July, Senator Golden issued a proclamation commending Jenny "for her display of outstanding citizenry in support of ALS." The resolution, passed on February 13th, was presented on the Senate floor.
Bryan Schonfeld
Before being recognized as an adult in the Jewish community, Bryan Schonfeld had to complete a series of requirements leading up to his Bar Mitzvah, including giving tzedaka (charity).
When it came to fulfilling his tzedaka, Bryan choose The ALS Association to be the recipient of his Bar Mitzvah gifts. In his Bar Mitzvah speech, Bryan said about his connection to ALS, "In my case, I feel that there is a lot of meaning in a name. My Hebrew name is Dov. I was named after my Grandpa Bernie. He passed away from ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, when my mom was a teenager. My mom has told me that I was named after a smart, generous and warm person. In Judaism, we believe that naming a baby after a deceased loved one will both honor his memory and as well as pass on his character to the newborn."
In addition to donating his gifts, Bryan also invited his friends and family to take a role in spreading ALS awareness by offering them red "Never Give Up" bracelets.
For Chapter events and other fundraisers, click here.
|
