Greeley students Archives - The Inside Press

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.”

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

In celebration of community and National Inclusive Schools Week, the Greeley Boys Swim & Dive Team in conjunction with the Greeley PTA Special Ed Committee and the Chappaqua PTA Special Ed Committee presented the documentary Swim Team the Film, with a panel discussion and Q&A following the screening. The Boys & Girls Swim & Dive Team coordinated a preshow bake sale. All proceeds from the bake sale and voluntary donations for admission to the screening were donated to YAI, an organization that helps people of all ages with disabilities.

The post film discussion was moderated by Rev. Martha Jacobs and included Lara Stolman, the film’s producer/director, Kathy Schiavi, YAI’s director, Jason Gold, Clinical Psychologist & Psychoanlyst, and Mike DeBellis, Greeley Teacher and Coach of the inclusive boys wrestling team. The Swim Team presented Kathy Schiavi a check for $600 which they raised for YAI.

Swim Team the Film will be shown at the Chappaqua Library on Friday, April 20th at 7 p.m. with a Q&A following the screening by producer/director Lara Stolman. There will be no admission charge. For more information, please contact Denise Hanchet at hanchet@verizon.net.