Northern Westchester Kids Get Creative Helping Others

From Co-Communications, Inc.:

South Salem and Katonah Girls and Boys Help Raise Money for Kids with Cancer

It’s summertime and while most kids are out and about at day or sleep-a-way camp, playing sports, participating or just vegging, a few Northern Westchester kids are doing something different. Committing themselves to weeks of community service, they’re raising money for children with cancer to support Pediatric Cancer Foundation (PCF).

Every year more than 12,000 infants and children are diagnosed with cancer, the causes of which are still unknown. Founded in 1970, the Westchester-based nonprofit has demonstrated tremendous success raising money for research, state of the art equipment/ instruments and patient/parent care for world-renowned doctors at the six hospitals, one of which is Westchester-based Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center.

Image 1: Aidan Koff (aka “Shady”), Katonah

As part of Aidan Koff’s preparation to become a Bar Mitzvah, an important component of his studies involves tikkun olam – repairing the world and participating in Tzedakah – social action. With this in mind, he chose to combine his passion of being a dedicated lacrosse goalie with his desire to help children in need. Creating “Goalie’s Goals,” Aidan came up with a fundraising idea that combines his love of saving goals on the field while raising funds and awareness for Pediatric Cancer Foundation (PCF) off of the field.

By dedicating his summer lacrosse season with the Prime Time lacrosse team he plays with, Aidan is raising funds for PCF through a letter-writing campaign for people to contribute a dollar amount per goal saved (for example, with donation of $.25 per goal saved x 100 (saves anticipated) = $25 donation) in the memo section. His mom, Nancy, was the “bookkeeper” of the effort – donors would need to email her their price per goal.

Wise beyond his years, Aidan explains, “Sometimes words are not enough, and we all need to act. Goalie’s Goals makes every save counts. Every penny counts. Every child in need counts.” So far, Aidan has raised $998. Upon reaching his personal goal of 100 saves this summer at 5 individual tournaments (actually having surpassed with 104 saves), he is now in process of reaching back out to those family and friends who had made individual pledges based upon his total goals saved with an estimated $1,000 additional donations to be received based upon these pledges.

Image 2: The Soundview Loop Girls, South Salem

Five girls, ranging in age from 2-13, that live on Soundview Loop in South Salem have dedicated their summer to lemonade stands and fundraising for PCF. It’s not just one lemonade stand, but multiple ones throughout July and August. The block is banded together this summer to fight cancer. According to one of the girl’s moms, Victoria Feroce, “This is the time of the year that my daughters like to do lemonade stands and Pediatric Cancer Foundation’s mission and pediatric cancer really touches our heart.” The group will be working hard to collect donations this summer and plan to present a check from the hard-earned fundraising at the end. Thus far, the girls have raised $134, with more lemonade stands to come. “The parents in our neighborhood believe it’s incredibly important that our children learn at an early age the importance of being charitable and giving back,” Feroce says. 11 year-old Natalie Feroce went on to say, "It's important to me that we help these kids so they are here to have a better future... I'm sending my love to them all." 13 year-old sister Maria echoed her sentiment, “It feels great to help kids of all ages that have this disease... I wanted my lemonade stand to have significance this summer."

“It’s a wonderful thing that kids and parents who live in our idyllic county are thinking about children far less fortunate this summer,” said PCF’s Chairman of the Board, Cheryl Rosen. “More than 2,300 children will die each year from cancer, the causes of which are still unknown, and our funding helps critical research to attack this issue. The funds raised by Shady and the Soundview Loop Girls will help children and youth from birth-21 who are fighting the battle and the incredible doctors who are on the front lines of the disease,” she added.

About Pediatric Cancer Foundation
Pediatric Cancer Foundation’s mission is to find a cure for childhood cancer. Founded in 1970, this 501(c) (3) non-profit charity raises money for research, state of the art equipment/ instruments and patient/parent care for world renowned doctors at the hospitals PCF supports. These hospitals include: NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital; Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center; Stephen D. Hassenfeld Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at NYU Langone Medical Center; Cohen Children’s Medical Center of NY; Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center and Comer Children’s Hospital; and The University of Chicago Medicine & Biological Sciences. For more information about Pediatric Cancer Foundation, go here or call Nancy Joselson at 914-777-3127.

Images via Co-Communications, Inc.