The Shorefront Y will be teaming up with the Brooklyn Autism Spectrum Disorder Initiative (BASDI) to host its Third Annual Walk for Autism, this Sunday, May 19 at 11:00 a.m. along the Coney Island boardwalk, starting at West 10th Street. Registration starts at 10:00 a.m.
The annual walk aims to raise awareness and funds in order to create new programs and maintain vital ongoing services and programs to families living with autism and other developmental disabilities. All proceeds from the walk will benefit programs at participating BASDI organizations serving children with special needs throughout southern Brooklyn.
The 1.2 mile walk will conclude at the Shorefront Y, 3300 Coney Island Avenue, where there will be a chance to learn more about special needs programming, network with peers, and enjoy refreshments.
To register for this event, or to make a pledge, click here. To learn more about the Shorefront Y, visit www.shorefronty.org.
Midwood’s P.S 193 Gil Hodges School once had an award-winning music program, but budget cuts have scaled back their capabilities. That’s why school music advocates at organizing the Spring Music and Family Fest, a fundraising musical showcase to restore the program to its former glory.
The school has lined up as many as 20 accomplished musicians and performers, including a handful of school alumni, set to rock P.S. 193′s 2515 Avenue L auditorium this Saturday, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Genres range from hip-hop to opera, and features well-known performers like Yah Supreme and The Lords of Liechtenstein.
The school’s music program was once thriving, with the students winning awards in the Riverside Symphony Music Memory competition and elsewhere, and a choral teacher who wrote original scores for the end of the year school musicals. The school hopes to close a budget gap created by September 2012 budget cuts.
It’s not just music on tap for the night; the event will feature activities such as free face painting and a raffle with prizes from local businesses such as a gift card from Tête-à-Tête Café.
Purchasing the tickets online cost $12 per ticket with a V.I.P package available when four tickets are bought. Tickets at the door will cost more.
The school’s music teacher, Nonie Schuster, wrote in an essay the school posted on their site, “As music teachers, if we can instill a love and appreciation of music in our students, we’ll give them a gift that will nourish and sustain them throughout their lives.”
The Brooklyn Cyclones have announced that they will raising moneyfor various Superstorm Sandy recovery efforts, through a new program dubbed “Meaningful Mondays.”
The way it works is that $3 out of every ticket sold at MCU Park (1904 Surf Avenue) on Mondays will go to several charities involved in the recovery process. This will start in July.
According to the press release, each week the “Meaningful Monday” will focus on a different neighborhood affected by the storm. Here is a schedule the press release provided of which neighborhoods will go with which week:
• Monday, July 1 –Coney Island Night to benefit ConeyRecovers.org.
• Monday, July 8 – Gerritsen Beach Night to benefit Gerritsen Cares.
• Monday, July 22 –Nassau County Night to benefit the Nassau Hurricane Recovery Fund.
• Monday, July 29 – Red Hook Night to benefit the Red Hook Initiative.
• Monday, August 19 –Staten Island Night to benefit The Stephen Siller Foundation.
• Monday, August 26 – Breezy Point / Rockway Night to benefit The Graybeards.
Cyclones General Manager Steve Cohen states in the press release, “We hope that through our Meaningful Monday efforts, we can help the countless people still struggling to recover from the storm, recognize the heroes who were leaders in their communities during their time of need, and provide a night of fun and laughter at the ballpark as we all recover from Hurricane Sandy.”
From our friends at the Knights of Columbus Council #126. They write:
Sean Casey’s Animal Rescue located in Brooklyn, New York is a not for profit organization whose endeavor is to aid unfortunate animals in the interest of a higher quality of life. They take in rescued, confiscated, neglected, injured, ill, unmanageable, or otherwise unwanted animals from private owners, zoos, shelters, and other public organizations. These animals are cared for, and/or rehabilitated to the best of their ability and means until which time they can be found healthy, happy homes – whether it be through adoption to qualified candidates or legally released into habitats suitable to the specific species in conjunction with licensed wildlife rehabilitators.
He is survived by his loving family, friends, fiance, and unborn child. Steven was 23 years old when he passed away, and, in remembrance, his family is holding a fundraiser to raise money for his fiance Svetlana, and their child on the way.
The event is a poker night to be held on October 13, and donations collected will be used to establish the Steven Isris Fund for his family. Some donations will be used for raffles and prizes for the event that Steven’s family hopes to turn into an annual affair. You can donate money or find more information on the fundraiser here.
Dan Foster, the cancer survivor and Gerritsen Beach resident who organizes the neighborhood’s annual “Fun Run” to raise money for cancer research, will kick off this year’s event tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. All the details are in the flier above, and Dan also sent us the following:
I realize how lucky I am so I’m trying to give something back. After being diagnosed in 1996 at 47 years old ( young), in 1999 I started the Walk Of Hope in which I walked from the Montauk Point Lighthouse to St Patricks Cathedral – a 7 day trek and approx. 150 miles in Memory of those succumbed to Cancer but more importantly to give others Hope. I was blessed by the late John Cardinal O’Connor.
In 1999 my Cancer spread to both lungs but I didn’t give up. Life after Cancer really changed I threw out the first pitch to Mike Piazza at Shea Stadium, Gift of Life where at Christmas I rented a horse and carriage and dressed up as Santa and gave people in the Gerritsen Beach community a free ride as my wife made hot chocolate, cookies and gave out candy canes and stuffed toys, Candle Light Vigil for Cancer in the community gardens.
I now belong to many different Cancer organizations. Each year Dan’s Fun Run is in memory of someone from the community and the families decide where the money will go, Since this is the 10th annual I decided that the money would go to Beth Israel Medical Center . The funds raised this year will benefit the Dan Foster Colorectal Cancer Research Fund which supports- state-of-the art patient care, education and research by the Division of Colorectal Surgery at Beth Israel Medical Center where I had my surgery. For further information please don’t hesitate to give me a call.
Brooklyn’s 6th Annual Senior Idol, a contest that draws upon the talents of local senior citizens, is in the works. Seniors perform before a crowd and a panel of judges to win the title of “Brooklyn’s Senior Idol” and $500 on October 13.
Senator Martin Golden will host the event with the support of Xaverian High School and Chapter #5055 of the AARP.
Judges will select 10 contestants from those who audition to compete in the show.
Brooklyn residents age 50 or older are asked to audition on Saturday, September 8 at 10:00 a.m. at Xaverian High School at 7100 Shore Road. There is handicapped accessibility available at 71st Street entrance.
Those trying out for the competition are encouraged to bring a CD or cassette tape accompaniment. A piano is available and participants are also welcome to bring a guitar.
“Every year, Brooklyn’s Senior Idol attracts great talent from our Borough and more and more fans show up to cheer on our contestants at the show. This year, as we begin to plan the 6th Annual, I look forward to another successful event which has come a very popular tradition. So if you can sing, be sure to try out. And if you want to see a great show, be there on October 13,” said Golden.
Tickets for the event are $10.00 and can only be purchased at the door. Proceeds benefit the Xaverian High School Music Scholarship Fund and the purchase of new instruments to support the Xaverian High School music program.
For more information, contact Senator Golden’s office at (718) 238-6044.
Muscle-bound Jack Spadaro will once again battle the trenches of the East River to raise funds for autism.
For the fourth year in a row, Sheepshead Bay’s own Jack Spadaro will once again flex his aquatic muscles and swim across the East River to raise funds and awareness for autistic children.
Battling the trenches of the East River, the big-hearted neighborhood activist will don his swim skivvies July 15 for the Brooklyn Bridge 1K Swim Event. Spadaro, 49, is teaming up with Hempstead, Long Island’s Doug “Iron Man” Rebecca to form Team Block Swim in support of the Block Institute’s efforts in continuing to provide quality services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Battling the trenches of the East River, the two iron men — joining scores of other swimmers from across the tri-state area — will begin their journey at Pebble Beach in Brooklyn, swim towards the Brooklyn Bridge, continue their course underneath the bridge, and then finally cross the East River to the dry land of Manhattan. A combination of buoys, support boats, and kayaks will mark/monitor the swim route to help swimmers remain on course.
The Brooklyn Bridge Swim, an annual event organized by the non-profit Bridge to Youth, serves the special needs children and their parents with programs and activities to raise awareness, offer support and build self-esteem.
Spadaro, a St. Mark School alum, also volunteers with Bay Improvement Group, Foundation for Children with Special Needs, the American Cancer Society and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. He is hoping to inspire others to help support the Block Institute’s mission in assisting individuals with special needs.
If you are interesting in making a donation in Spadaro’s name, click here, or go to nycswim.org and select your swimmer.
The Brooklyn chapter of the Dream Factory organization has teamed up with the Brooklyn Cyclones in order to raise funds for the next dream they will grant for a child diagnosed with critical or chronic illness.
The Cyclones face off against the Jammers of Jamestown on July 8, 2012 at 5 p.m. The tickets are $10 each and 100 percent of the proceeds will benefit the Brooklyn Dream Factory. Tickets are tax deductible.
Contact the Dream Factory organizers if you have questions at (917) 968-8078.
Good luck to the Cyclones and the Dream Factory Team!
Our friends at the Shorefront Y, the Kings Bay Y and the Marks JCH of Bensonhurst are putting together their second annual Walk for Autism event, slated for April 22. In advance of the event, they’ve asked us to help get the word out to local about how they can get signed up to help this great cause.
The walk benefits Southern Brooklyn families who cannot afford to pay for special needs programs as the government continues to slash away at free programs. So by participating, you’re helping out neighbors who need it the most.
The walk itself is 1.2 miles along the Coney Island Boardwalk, beginning at the Aquarium. Here’s the flier:
