The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

A Kids' Brain Tumor Cure

Spotlight on Community Day 2018: A Yearly Tradition Courtesy of the Rotary Club Filled with Fun for All

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Greeley senior Andrew Kassin said the event was a great opportunity to fundraise and raise awareness for the Matthew Larson Foundation, as he and other students sold T-shirts and sweatshirts in remembrance of their classmate, Casey Taub.

The aroma of roasted hot dogs and cotton candy competed with the sounds of guitar strums and cheering children at the 2018 Community Day. The Rotary Club-sponsored event brought more than 70 organizations to the heart of Chappaqua. Kids sporting butterfly face paint and their parents interested in various local groups lined the train station parking lot. The September 15th  event served not only as a community gathering but also as a chance for organizations to network and fundraise.

“We are here to support the community of Chappaqua,” attendee and Chappaqua resident Dara Dubs said. “It is also great to see old and new friends and our kids love going on the rides.”

While groups including the Chappaqua School Foundation and Chappaqua First Responders return to Community Day each year, Tea Town, and the Matthew Larson Foundation for Pediatric Brain Tumors were a few of several organizations who participated in the event for the first time. This year’s Community Day also featured new activities for children, including a pony ride and a scavenger hunt.

But not only did little kids take advantage of what the 2018 event had to offer, Greeley students also attended, performed and volunteered at Community Day. Executives from Greeley’s largest community service organization, S.H.A.R.E, distributed T-shirts for A Kids’ Brain Tumor Cure, adding to the bracelets, pins and flying discs that various non-profits and local businesses also circulated.

(L-R): Barbara Klein, George Furman, Donald Roane, Peter Davidson PHOTO BY MADELINE ROSENBERG

Greeley senior Andrew Kassin said the event was a great opportunity to fundraise and raise awareness for the Matthew Larson Foundation, as he and other students sold T-shirts and sweatshirts in remembrance of their classmate, Casey Taub.

“Jonathan Taub’s message has been to keep Casey in everyone’s mind, to keep honoring him and to never forget him,” Kassin said. “Being here is a great way to carry that on.”

As community members of all ages enjoyed the activities that local groups sponsored, Rotary Club of Chappaqua president Eileen Gallagher said Community Day also serves as a natural way to bring attention to the Rotary Club itself.   

“We look forward to more and more people coming each year,” Gallagher said. “We really want people to know we are here for them.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF DAWN GREENBERG
(L-R): Sarah Platkin, Catherine Zhu, Jordan Rattner, volunteers from S.H.A.R.E.
PHOTO BY MADELINE ROSENBERG

COMEDY KIDS: Telling jokes to fight cancer

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8-year-old boys trying to prove laughter truly is the best medicine

roaring-brook-3rd-graders-fight-cancer-with-humorWhat do you get when you cross two Third Graders, some side splitting jokes, and a fundraiser? One step closer to curing pediatric brain cancer!

Eight-year-old friends and classmates, Max Chwatko and Alex Travin, have created Comedy Kids to raise much needed funds for pediatric brain cancer research. When Max’s little sister, Scarlett, was diagnosed with a brain tumor, the twosome were compelled to take action. They began telling jokes to fellow students in exchange for a donation to charity. When classmates began donating bags of allowance money, the duo decided to take the show on the road.

“When my sister got sick with cancer it felt like my responsibility to help raise money for cancer research,” said Max. “Being funny is a big part of our life and it helps us not feel so sad about the cancer, and I like how jokes come to life when I tell them.”

The pair’s first gig will be at the Chappaqua Farmer’s Market on November 5, from 9:30-noon. Every penny raised will go to A Kids’ Brain Tumor Cure (AKBTC), which has roots in their Chappaqua community, and which also funds essential research for kids like Scarlett.

“Jokes are really funny and make people happy,” said Alex. “And by telling them in school for a donation it was like all the kids in class were helping other kids.”

For those who cannot make it to the farmers market event donations can be made online. For any gift of $20 or more Max and Alex will send a personalized, knee-slapping video joke to donors.
“It’s so inspiring when kids take it upon themselves to support a cause near and dear to their hearts,” remarked Kim Gilman Director of Development/Family Outreach of AKBTC. “Cancerous brain tumors are the number-one cancer related death in children, yet pediatric brain cancer research is drastically underfunded and no significant advances in treatment have been made in the past 25 years. Private funding for promising research is what gives us all hope for a cure for children battling this horrible disease.”

For information please contact comedykidsny@gmail.com

To support Comedy Kids and make an online donation please visit: akidsbraintumorcure.donordrive.com

Learn more about Comedy Kids and follow them on social media

Comedy Kids Facebook page

Farmers Market event page, market located at the Chappaqua, NY, train station

Instagram

Twitter

ABOUT COMEDY KIDS

Max Chwatko credits his sense of humor to his grandfather who is “probably the funniest person on earth.” He is also inspired by Will Ferrell, The Three Stooges, Austin Powers and Billy Eichner. Original joke by Max: Why are noses in good shape? They run!

Alex Travin’s comedic influences include Uncle Joey Gladstone of Full House fame, Mork from Ork, The State and Gilligan, the bumbling first mate of the SS Minnow. His favorite joke of the moment: How do you drown a hipster? In the mainstream!

ABOUT A KIDS’ BRAIN TUMOR CURE FOUNDATION

Cancerous brain tumors are the number one cancer related death in children. Current treatments are toxic, cause permanent cognitive and physical impairments, and severely diminish quality of life. Pediatric brain cancer research is severely under-funded, and as a result, there have been no new treatment breakthroughs in 25 years. The mission of A Kids’ Brain Tumor Cure (AKBTC/PLGA Foundation) is to raise funds and awareness for scientific research leading to new, promising treatments and a cure for children’s brain cancer. For more information, visit www.akidsbraintumorcure.org; contact info@akidsbraintumorcure.org; or connect on social media at www.facebook.com/PLGAFoundationAKBTC/, or #AKBTC or @PLGA

A Kids’ Brain Tumor Cure: Events Galore Include ‘Sparkle for a Cause,’ May 31

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May is Brain Cancer Awareness Month and Chappaqua’s own A Kids’ Brain Tumor Cure Foundation (AKBTC) has a lot going on this month!

A Kids’ Brain Tumor Cure (a non-profit organization, 501(c)(3)), is partnering with two other pediatric cancer foundations, the Ty Lewis Campbell Foundation (Carmel) and Solving Kids Cancer (NYC) to fund a novel, cutting-edge clinical trial which uses immunotherapy to treat children with recurrent brain tumors who have exhausted all other current treatment options.

Researchers from best-in-class Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins Hospital, and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute will collaborate on this trial.

A Kids’ Brain Tumor Cure’s portion of the funding for this trial was made possible by Think Fit For Kids 2016, which raised over $115,000 for pediatric brain cancer research! Thank you Think Fit For Kids loyal supporters!

To honor children currently battling brain tumors, raise awareness about this orphan disease and raise funds for pediatric brain cancer research, AKBTC has created baseball hats for sale with the #ChappaCure.

This community has shown it’s commitment to finding the cure for children’s brain tumors by purchasing hundreds of #ChappaCure hats and wearing them around town. The entire Horace Greeley Lacrosse Team purchased the hats as well as many of the Girl Scout Troops, local merchants, students, parents and grandparents.

We were even lucky enough to get President Bill Clinton to promise to wear his hat proudly! To purchase a hat, please contact kim@akidsbraintumorcure.org.

Kim Gilman and Bill Clinton wearing #ChappaCure Hats available for purchase.
Kim Gilman and Bill Clinton wearing #ChappaCure Hats available for purchase.

On the last day of Brain Cancer Awareness Month, Tuesday, May 31st, Crabtree’s Kittle House will host their Sparkle For A Cause dinner event with 30% of all proceeds benefitting A Kids’ Brain Tumor Cure. See flyer attached. We hope to see all of our friends and neighbors on Tuesday, May 31st from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. at the Kittle House for a delicious dinner for a great cause.

Reservations highly encouraged and please let your server know you are there for the Sparkle Event! Wear your #ChappaCure hat and if you don’t have one yet, don’t worry — they will be on sale at The Kittle House on May 31st!

Please visit akidsbraintumorcure.org to find out how you can support pediatric brain cancer research, because all children should fight for their dreams, not for their lives.

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