Heartwarming Stories and Gratitude to Those Who Helped
Stephen Weikert hangs MSAA's paper candy canes on a Christmas tree at the Y.A.L.E. School, displaying canes purchased by students and faculty.
Students Raise Funds for MSAA
Marc Pagliante and Stephen Weikert attend the Y.A.L.E. School in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, located within MSAA's Northeast Region. Y.A.L.E. is a state-approved private school that serves the needs of challenged students. As a part of the curriculum, students are encouraged to participate in community service projects. Marc and Stephen selected MSAA as their organization for the project.
With the help of their teacher Peggy Chapman, Marc and Stephen met with school administration and presented their plan to raise $250, enough money to buy one cooling vest for an individual with MS. By the end of the campaign, they surpassed their goal tenfold and raised $2,500, which is the highest total ever brought in by any group participating in the Sweeten the Season campaign.
Throughout the campaign they developed new and creative ways to engage the student body. They showed a movie, held a bake sale, and also developed and starred in two public service announcements that ran on the Y.A.L.E. TV channel. Also during the campaign, this duo made 12 presentations on MS and how cooling vests can help. MSAA thanks Marc and Stephen for all of their hard work and dedication.
Tina Geller, manager of special events at MSAA, presents a certificate of appreciation to Marc Pagliante. He and fellow student Stephen Weikert helped raise $2,500 for MSAA.
In addition, many other individuals and groups have assisted with the Sweeten the Season campaign. The Gardiners Ave School in Levittown, New York (located in MSAA's Northeast Region), also had a student who stepped-up to the challenge.
Anne and Anastasia are facilitators for an MSAA support group in New York, and when they heard about the Sweeten the Season campaign, they got right to work. Anastasia contacted the Gardiners Ave School, where her niece, Elizabeth, is a student. Knowing that her aunt has MS, Elizabeth began a campaign at the school to raise MS awareness and sell paper candy canes.
Sadly, Elizabeth has had to cope with the loss of her father in the 9/11 tragedy in New York City. Being a part of this fundraiser helped raise her spirit and her determination. Inspired by her aunt and her father, Elizabeth sold the paper candy canes at school functions, sporting events, and other activities. MSAA thanks Elizabeth for her hard work which will help others.
A special thanks to everyone who helped
Barbara is an MSAA support group leader in Florida, located in MSAA's Southeast Region. Now that the holidays are over, she wanted to thank three very generous businesses and their patrons for supporting MSAA's Sweeten the Season campaign. According to Barbara, these three businesses outdid themselves in helping many people with disabilities in their community by assisting with the sale of paper candy canes.
The companies are Sinfully Sweets & Treats and the City Barber Shop in Leesburg, as well as the Oak Wood Smokehouse Grills in Lady Lake, Leesburg, and South Leesburg. Barbara emphasizes that once again, the people in her community have shown how caring and generous they are, and what a wonderful place to call home.
Moving on to the South-Central Region, an MSAA support group in Oklahoma was a great help in raising funds for MSAA's Sweeten the Season campaign. Support group leader Judy B., along with members, Judy M., June, Jane, and Glenna, worked diligently to raise over $1,200. Many thanks to all for their hard work, and thanks also go to those businesses that allowed them to sell the paper candy canes in front of their shops.
From the Northwest Region, Nancy from Montana also participated in this year's Sweeten the Season campaign. Nancy has limited mobility, so she let her fingers do the walking. She called a number of local merchants and was able to sign on 21 new businesses to sell MSAA paper candy canes. MSAA thanks Nancy for her great effort.
Everyone associated with MSAA thanks the participating support groups, individuals, and businesses for their hard work in helping to raise funds for MSAA through its Sweeten the Season campaign. Although the Midwest and Western Regions were not represented in the stories, they too had much support and the regional directors in those two regions also thank all those who participated.
