John Mitty Wednesday, June 6, 2012 |
Gershow Recycling Donates $2,000 to Sunrise Fund at Stony Brook
Company Inspired by Students’ Outreach and Generosity and Growing Participation
in the Program
Who:
Jonathan Abrams, Manager, Gershow Recycling
Keith Fasciana, Principal, William Floyd Elementary School
Maria Marks, Student, William Floyd Elementary School
Taylor Macioce, Student, Kreamer Street Elementary School
Michele Mulderrig, Principal, Holy Angels Regional School
Lorraine Delgenio, Principal, Our Lady of Mercy Regional School
Christina Sarafin, Teacher, Holy Angels Regional School
NYS Senator Lee Zeldin
Brookhaven Town Councilman Dan Panico
Dr. Robert Parker, Associate Director, Stony Brook University Cancer Center
Debra Giugliano, Director of the School Re-Entry Program, Stony Brook University Medical Center
Cara J. Giannillo, Coordinator, School Intervention & Re-Entry Program, Pediatric Hematology & Oncology, Stony Brook Children’s Hospital
What:
Gershow Recycling will join students from William Floyd Elementary School, representatives from participating schools and local elected officials in concluding this year’s “Can Tabs for Kids” program. NYS Senator Lee Zeldin will present the students in attendance with certificates of appreciation in honor of their participation in the program.
In the “Can Tabs for Kids” program, students brought in aluminum soda and pet food tabs and placed them in collection bins located inside their classrooms. The bags were taken out of the bins and brought to Gershow, where they were weighed and recycled. Gershow pledged to match the amount raised, up to a cumulative amount of $5,000. This year, students from participating schools collected 2.1 million tabs weighing 1,444 pounds and worth $722. Gershow is matching the amount raised by the students and, because the company was inspired by the students’ dedication and the growing participation of the program, is making an extra contribution, making the total contribution $2,000. The funds raised will be donated to The Sunrise Fund at Stony Brook, which was established to raise awareness about childhood cancer and the special needs of such children throughout local communities.
The idea for the program was inspired by Maria Marks, a William Floyd Elementary School student who was diagnosed with cancer at a young age. Between the ages of two weeks and six months, she underwent numerous chemotherapy sessions. The constant exposure to the radiation resulted in Maria losing her hearing in both ears and now she must wear hearing aids. Her cancer has since been in remission.
The program has since expanded, with participating schools including Kreamer Street Elementary School in Bellport, Holy Angels Regional School in Patchogue, and Our Lady of Mercy School in Cutchogue, as well as St. Jude’s Parish Outreach in Mastic Beach, the Patchogue-Medford and Half Hollow Hills School Districts.
According to the National Cancer Institute, cancer is the leading cause of death by disease among U.S. children between 0 and 15 years. In 2011, more than 11,000 new cases of pediatric cancer were diagnosed in children up to 14 years of age.
** NOTE TO EDITORS: A viewing of the aluminum tabs being placed into a hopper for recycling at Gershow’s Medford facility is available upon request. **
When: Wednesday, June 7, 2012 - 12:30 p.m.
Where: William Floyd Elementary School, 111 Lexington Road, Shirley, NY
Directions: LIE to Exit 68 (William Floyd Parkway/CR 46) toward Shirley. Go 4.7 miles. Turn left at Lawrence Road, then turn left again on Lexington Road North. School is on the right-hand side.
Photo Ops: Mr. Abrams speaking to the students. Mr. Abrams presenting the check to Mr. Fasciana, Maria, Ms. Giugliano and Dr. Parker. Mr. Fasciana and Mr. Abrams with the tabs collected by the students.
jmitty@longislandyellowpages.com Appears In: Business News
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