More than $1,000 donated to Make A Difference against cancer

Long Branch — What a difference a day makes. On National Make A Difference Day October 27, one day before Hurricane Sandy decimated the Jersey Shore, more than 50 preschool through eighth grade students at The Seashore School in Long Branch met at their Second Avenue campus, put on limited edition pink Seashore T-shirts and marched to the Jacqueline Wilentz Breast Center to present a Banner of Hope they created and $1,054 they raised to the Center’s Foundation members.

Despite warnings one of the worst storms to hit New Jersey in history was coming, there was a good feeling in the air that came from joining together to make a bigger difference than any one person could have made alone. Little did some of the children know the extent of the damage the hurricane would do to their homes and lives.
“Today is National Make A Difference Day,” seventh grader Elena Shalom, Elberon told Jacqueline Wilentz board members. “And to make a difference we are lending a hand to fight breast cancer,” continued seventh grader Ananda Ramseur, Neptune.
“We all have mothers,” said seventh grader Jordan Semon, Long Branch. “And one day, we will be mothers,” said sixth grader Katerina Barc, Colts Neck. “We want to keep women safe,” said sixth grader Alina Keller, Atlantic Highlands.
“So we collected money to make sure local women who can’t afford mammograms can get this important test critical to saving lives,” concluded seventh grader Ceejai Schnoor, Middletown.
One at a time, children presented their dollars to Angie Henschel, Board/Donor Relation Associate, and Jaci McHugh Marketing Coordinator and Development Associate of Barnabus Health, Monmouth Medial Center Foundation.
“You really made a difference,” said Henschel, commending children on what they had accomplished and encouraging them to keep up the good work.
According to Seashore President John Villapiano, it is never too soon to teach children about giving back.
“The entire school came together to fight this disease, which affects thousands of local women. Each student traced his or her hand on pink paper and for $1 signed and joined ‘hands’ with schoolmates from our preschool, pre-kindergarten and grade school campuses to create the banner presented by three to 13 years olds, teachers and parents.”
As part of the project, children also put together treat packets to leave behind for patients waiting for mammograms or results. Since it was about helping save lives, directors from all three campuses decided on Lifesavers.
“We turned it into a learning experience,” said Pre-Kindergarten Director Tracy Gallo. Children counted out individually wrapped Lifesavers and put them into cellophane bags, which they tied with pink ribbon.
According to Preschool Director Dawn Lehman, proceeds will benefit local women who cannot afford diagnostic testing because early detection is crucial to survival.
“We chose to donate to the Jacqueline Wilentz because it is right across the street,” said Lehman, Gallo and Principal Charlotte Schatzow. “Area women go there every day while we are in session and (like the rest of us) anxiously await the results of their tests. We want to lend a hand to support these women with funds that could potentially save a life.”
For more information on the Seashore school, please call 732-222-6464 or visit www.seashorecampandschool.com.

Caption:
Three year olds through upper classmen at The Seashore School in Long Branch came together to make a difference by lending a hand to fight breast cancer. Student representatives donated a their Banner of Hope, $1,054 and dozens of treat bags of Lifesavers tied with pink ribbons to Jacqueline M. Wilentz Breast Center October 27 for local women who cannot afford mammograms because early detection is crucial to survival.

Caption 2:
One at a time, Seashore students stepped up to present their dollars to Angie Henschel, Board/Donor Relation Associate and Jaci McHugh Marketing Coordinator and Development Associate of Barnabus Health, Monmouth Medial Center Foundation.

Kristen Howe and Lindsay Greenspan lead a procession of more than 50 Seashore preschool through eighth graders from their 345 Second Avenue Campus in Long Branch to Jacqueline Wilentz Breast Center to present a Banner of Hope the children created and $1,054 they raised to fund mammograms for local women who can’t afford diagnostic testing crucial to saving lives.