At the event, Dan Cohen, CEO of Music and Memory, gave a 20 minute presentation to twenty-five elementary-aged students. Dan also shared a video of “Henry”, a patient with dementia whose memory became “alive” when a song from his past was played using an iPod and headphones. (The video is available for viewing on the home page of the Music and Memory website.)
Following the presentation, five talented high school musicians demonstrated their instruments and talked to our students about their love for playing music. After a quick snack break, Danielle F. discussed the science of sound and used several unconventional instruments (i.e. slinky, muffin pan) to demonstrate how different sounds are generated and travel through the air. A highlight of the evening was when eight volunteer elementary students formed a band and played Row, Row, Row Your Boat on the floor using Boomwackers.

Following the music demonstrations, Azure R. read a music-themed children’s picture book titled, Xavier Ox’s Xylophone Experiment. In the story, Xavier Ox and his classmates experiment with building an extra-strong xylophone. This humorous book is part of the Animal Antics collection. Each story is designed to focus on a single letter sound. Following the story, our students had an opportunity to design their own instrument using empty water bottles, assorted beans and decorative strips of Duct Tape. (It looks like we found a new use for Duct tape.) Before you knew it, the Center was filled with the sounds of 25 shaking water bottle maracas. Overall, the 2-hour event was musical, memorable and very note-worthy!

Thank you to the high school committee and all those students who attended the event! Looking forward to seeing you at our next event!

I couldn’t help but think of AMND. Maybe we aren’t the “crazy ones” who don’t follow rules and who have no respect for the status quo, but we kind of are. We’re kids. Every time a 15-year-old high school student calls a major corporation like Apple and asks to speak with their community relations department for information about a possible charitable donation, we challenge the norm. We break the rules. We see things differently. The parents, teachers and administrators at Northport High School deserve a pat on the back, because they are the ones who encouraged us, who told us to think outside the box, and who smiled when we proved everyone wrong.

A few weeks ago, I saw the documentary “Waiting for Superman.” If you haven’t seen it, you should. The film outlines the failure of the American public education system. It highlights a few students who are hoping to be selected from a lottery to enter into a charter school in their neighborhood. It exposes the sad truth that most children in America don’t have the option of a good education; they depend on fate to let them at a chance for a bright future. I always knew I was lucky to have attended such a great public school that encouraged me to work hard and “think different,” but it was hard to hold back tears after that film.

I can only hope that every student gets the opportunity we had – the opportunity to be the crazy one who thinks they can change the world – because they can.

If you are interested, here’s the link to the Apple ad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX9GTUMh490

To register, please contact Bryan Horan at
amndphilanthropycenter@gmail.com or bhoran@northport.k12.ny.us. For
more information about AMND or the Philanthropy Center, please visit
our website –www.amnd.org.

We asked each student to donate a non-perishable food item that would help feed hungry families on Long Island. On the night of the event, a representative from Island Harvest was on hand to talk to the students about philanthropy and how their food donations would help others in need. In total, we were able to donate an estimated 76 food items to Island Harvest.

In addition, for the first time, the AMND Philanthropy Center partnered with Skipper’s Pub for a parent’s night out promotion where parents received a 15% discount upon mention of the Philanthropy Center. We estimate about ten parents took the coupon and ate at Skippers that evening and are looking forward to offering this promotion again!

The night was a great success!! The kids had a great time painting, reading, eating, and playing some fun games. The committee had a great time planning and participating in the event, and can’t wait to plan another one. Stay tuned for news about our next event!

Understandably, there is something bittersweet about the events every year. In one regard, we celebrate the number of years we have held the event, raising more money each time. On the other hand, each year is another year that ALS has gone uncured, that Dave has suffered from this terrible illness, that all ALS families mourn their losses. 

If you haven’t seen the video posted on the AMND Facebook page of the committee members finding out how much money they raised, take some time to watch it. It is pure joy. One week ago, we felt remarkable success. Today, we feel staggering defeat. On Friday night, we found out that Dave was suffering from pneumonia in the hospital. It is with the utmost sadness that I tell you he will be entering end-of-life care tomorrow. I was lucky enough to get a chance to say goodbye today. But for those of you who didn’t, I will tell you that Dave’s teary eyes expressed two things: love and gratitude.  I can say nothing more than what I told him today:  he changed my whole life. Not only did he inspire me to pursue science and fundraising, he changed the way I view the world and every interaction I have.  In his speech to the graduating class of Northport High School in 2005, Dave spoke about the lessons he learned from his father’s death. He said, “I learned that life can be short. I learned that in the end, family and friends are all that matter. I learned that I should cherish every day as if it were my last. I learned that I should do the things that make me happy now. I learned that I should view the world and my life as a gift. I learned that I shouldn’t waste time being sad and grumpy.”

I speak for everyone who has ever been touched by Dave when I say that we learned all that and so much more from him. His strength and grace in the face of adversity will remain unmatched. How many people can truly say that hundreds of students, friends, colleagues and family members call them their hero? Dave can. He has touched us all in a different way. But I know I can speak for everyone when I say we will take his lessons and his wisdom with us wherever we go. We will never stop fighting this disease, and most of all, we will never forget his smile.

I love you bunches, Dave. Rock on.

Saturday, December 10th
6:00 PM—8:00 PM

 Join us for our Holiday event, where students will partake in 2 hours of fun, including ornament making, stories, and a few magical surprises! Please bring a new toy to benefit the Family Service League’s ‘Project Toy’ http://www.fslli.org/supporter/ProjectTOY.php 

To register…Please contact Bryan Horan at amndphilanthropycenter@gmail.com or bhoran@northport.k12.ny.us. For more information about AMND or the Philanthropy Center, please visit our website – www.amnd.org.

I think I can speak for all AMND alumni when I say AMND has prepared us to be adults a little better than any class, club, teacher or work experience ever could. As a professional in the non-profit world especially, I’m grateful for that. It’s an amazing thing to feel so accomplished at such a young age, and it’s something I will never take for granted.

While we’re on the topic of time flying, the event is around the corner! Could this really be number 8? I remember hearing about the first event over the loud speaker in high school. I can’t believe I am now not only removed from high school, but also from college. In an effort to keep heart palpitations to a minimum, Strasser put me in charge of the presentation last year. I’m really looking forward to that experience again. I’ve always enjoyed working under pressure, but having 550 eyes staring at a screen and microphone, waiting for the show to go off without a hitch is a whole different kind of pressure — the kind I live for! I’m really looking forward to the event this year and after my visit with Dave a few weeks ago, I know he is too. Providing a night out for ALS patients and caregivers is one of my favorite aspects of the event. Not only are we raising money for the cause, we are letting those afflicted with this awful disease put on a suit or a little lipstick and relax with 500 of their closest friends. It doesn’t get any better than that.

I hope to see you all there on January 12th! I’ll be the one in the corner of the ballroom dimming the lights.

A Midwinter Night’s Dream is pleased to be chosen this year as a participant in Americana Manhasset’s Champions for Charity® event. Help support CCI doing your holiday shopping from Thursday, December 1 through Saturday, December 3, over 70 participating Americana Manhasset and Wheatley Plaza stores will donate 25% of designated pre-tax purchases to the participating organization(s) of the customer’s choice.  Purchases are not automatically eligible; you must register for a complimentary CHAMPION CARD.

 IT’S EASY:  Simply designate A Midwinter Night’s Dream as your charity of choice and present your CHAMPION CARD when making purchases during the event.  25% will be automatically calculated and submitted to us.  Your Champion Card is not a credit card or used as any form of payment; your Champion Card simply allocates the charity you chose to support. Please be sure to allocate A Midwinter Night’s Dream as your charity of choice when registering and Champions for Charity will donate 25% of your pre-tax purchases to AMND.  It’s that easy.  

 IT’S SIMPLE TO REGISTER:     Click here to sign up today for your complimentary Champion Card at championsforcharity.org. Be sure to select A Midwinter Night’s Dream as your charity.

                       Or call direct at 800 818-6767

                       Or you may go in person to the Americana Manhasset’s Concierge Store

You must register for your Champion Card as you will need it at the time of purchase.  If you forget to bring your card, simply call or walk over to the Concierge and they will assist you.     Register to support A Midwinter Night’s Dream.

 PERSONAL SHOPPING: Americana Manhasset offers Concierge Service and complementary personal shopping to accommodate those who may need assistance or those who may not be in town and would like to pre select their purchases.

 ***All 2011 Champions for Charity® shoppers will be eligible to win a $1,000 Americana Manhasset GiftCard.***

 For more information about Champions for Charity®, visit championsforcharity.org ,call 800.818.6767, or visit Americana Manhasset’s Concierge Store.

  ]]> http://www.amnd.org/2011/11/01/upcoming-philanthropy-center-event-3/feed/ 0