A Night To Honor The Good In The World

“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.” ― Charles Dickens

The world loves a hero: an emergency responder who saved a life; a firefighter who put out a fire before damage was caused; a police officer who stopped a crime in progress.

But there are people whose everyday behavior and demeanor has as much impact as a single, dramatic moment -- people who do kind deeds for others; people who do those deeds with no expectations of anything in return.

“They are the angels among us,” said Dr. Walter Uszenski, superintendent of the Brick Township School District, “showing signs of hope everywhere.”

Those angels -- from schoolchildren to community organizations, young and old -- received praise on Saturday night, as Brick Township took time to celebrate those whose giving lightens the burdens of others with its first Hero Awards, held at Brick Township High School.

“This whole cross-section of the community is so inspiring,” Mayor John Ducey said as he presented two of the awards.

The honorees received golden capes with the Hero Award logo -- which was designed by a Brick Memorial student -- emblazoned on it.

The event, conceived by Colleen Finnegan of Enspirited Projects and David Seegert of Preferred Children’s Services’ Brick High School school-based program in conjunction with the Society of Influencers and Game Changers, a club at both high schools. It had one primary aim: to spread the message of the impact of kindness, in words and deeds -- with the hope of reducing bullying in the process.

Donna Vivino, who has starred on Broadway in ”Wicked,” was the emcee, and said the message was an important one. “Wicked” tells the story of the witches of the “Wizard of Oz” long before Dorothy comes to town, of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda, the Good Witch. Vivino said bullying is one of the themes, and during the course of her time in the role, she received letters from people who had seen her performance, talking about their experiences with bullying.

Helping to honor people for their kindnesses “is a big honor for me,” she said. “The real heroes are the ones who fly under the radar and do what’s needed. We were lucky to meet a bunch of them tonight.”

The night was designed to be like the Academy Awards, with a red carpet photo op and performances by a number of groups, including the Brick Township High School choir; Voices from the Lake, the Lake Riviera Middle School choir; Idol Time Academy; Elite Dance Academy; the Brick Children’s Community Theatre; and the Brick High School Drama Club. Student Madison Wicker sang the national anthem to open the event, and Marisa Patella, another student, sang Mariah Carey’s ”Hero.”

(You can listen to the Voice from the Lake choir’s performance of “Heroes (We Could Be)“ below.)

The evening closed with a performance by Anthony D’Amato, a 2002 graduate of Brick Memorial, who starred in “Remember Jones” at The Strand in Lakewood on Friday evening.

Dr. Richard Caldes, who works in central administration but was the principal at Brick Memorial, said the Society of Influencers and Game Changers, which was formed in the two schools to address bullying by changing the culture within the schools, has already had an impact.

“The kids are talking about them and getting involved,” he said.

Involving the community is the next step, FInnegan said.

Matt Ryan, radio personality from 94.3 The Point, said the Brick community has always been one of the strongest when it comes to helping others, and events like Saturday night’s celebration only underscore it.

“I get to see how awesome this community is every day,” Ryan told the audience of roughly 250 people. “Whenever there’s a need, you guys are the biggest supporters.”

Dennis Fillipone, principal at Brick High School, echoed that sentiment.

“I’ve lived in this community all my life,” he said. “I think (Superstorm) Sandy picked the wrong town when she picked us, because of the response I saw. We came together and took care of each other.”

“Everyone can be a hero,” said Raymond “R.J.” Hernandez, one of the honorees, “by doing little things that can make a difference. That’s what makes Brick the community it is.”

Councilwoman Andrea Zapcic, one of the presenters, agreed.

“Our actions have consequences, good or bad, every time we do something,” Zapcic said. “There’s a picture that’s been floating around Facebook, of a little boy dressed in a Batman costume, with the words, ‘Always be yourself. Unless you can be Batman. Then always be Batman.’ ”

“Always be yourself, and when you can, always be a hero,” she said,

The honorees (pictured below):

1. Gulnora Kuchkorova, third-grader at Emma Havens Young School, who mentors a kindergartner and writes poems and songs about helping others. “She is a great example of how young children can show us how to be heroes,” said Uszenski, who presented her award.
2. Alana Colabella, a student at Brick Township High School, who Uszenski said gives freely of her time and “lights up a room with just her personality.”
3. Breen Meyerle, secretary at Warren Wolf Elementary School, who worked long hours and picked up extra work when a co-worker was ill to ensure the school would be ready to open on time this fall, Caldes said.
4. Susan Suozzo, school counselor at Veterans Memorial Middle School, who came out of retirement to assist the school “in a time of crisis, after the death of a staff member,” Caldes said.
5. Colin Riley, Lanes Mill Elementary School. Presenters Maddie Allen of Brick HS and Tyler McKelvey of Brick Memorial said he always lends a helping hand and participates in Lanes Mill Buddies, a program that matches students with special-needs students.
6. Isabella Jacobs, Lanes Mill Elementary School, also participates in Lanes Mill Buddies and spreads kindness wherever she goes, Allen and McKelvey said.
7. Dan Cullen, head custodian at Osbornville School, who, Finnegan said, “is everywhere in the school, fixing things and making sure things run smoothly.”
8. William “Bill” Groves, custodian at Midstreams School, who is engaged with the students on a daily basis, Finnegan said, sometimes sitting to eat lunch with them, and as the kids’ favorite staff member has won the Principal’s Award.
9. Brick Township Police Officer Tara Schinder, the DARE officer at Lake Riviera Middle School, who Capt. Ron Dougard of the department said was being honored for her commitment to the children. “That’s my mommy,” her son Matthew, 4, said as she stepped to the stage. “I love what I do,” Schinder said.
10. Visitation Relief Center, represented by Deputy Director Moira Edge, volunteer coordinator Adele Leonard, care counselor Angela Grillo, and volunteers Carolee Moore, Jane Cavallaro, Betty Vestuschi, Trish McAvoy, Tommy Spanedero, Lexi Adams, Danielle Prachthauser, and Tabitha Gray, “who represent just a portion of our volunteers,” Edge said. The center was honored for its ongoing efforts to help residents impacted by Hurricane Sandy.
11. Tracy Kenney, school bus driver and interim supervisor, Drum Point Elementary School, who Seegert and Kevin Moseley, the anti-bullying coordinator at Brick High School, said has been a strong advocate of the district’s anti-bullying programs.
12. Nancy Guidice, school bus driver and supervisor, Herbertsville School, who was cited for her patience and understanding of students’ needs.
13. Master Sgt. David Tierney, head of the district’s Junior ROTC program. “His wisdom and the guidance he gives to our kids every day makes a difference,” Moseley said.
14. Denise Wirth, FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, for her commitment of helping to feed those in need.
15. Kurt Weiboldt, volunteer assistant football coach at Brick High School, who Fillipone said has given of his time and “reached into his pocket” for kids who needed it for 20 years. “There’s a simple answer to stopping things like what happened in Sayreville from happening,” Fillipone said. “You put someone like Kurt in the lockerroom.”
    
16. R.J. Hernandez of Brick Memorial High School, who recently earned the rank of Eagle Scout for his hours of community service to Brick, and promptly thanked his mother, Bobbi, who celebrated her birthday by watching her son don his hero’s cape on stage, to a round of cheers and applause.
17. David Schmelz, a member of the purchasing department in the school district, who helps keep things running smoothly, Ducey said. “I was given the nickname ‘Super Dave’ years ago,” Schmelz said. “It’s nice to have a cape to go with that.”
18. Dean Canfield, fifth-grader at Drum Point, for his good character and kind deeds. “Thank you, Drum Point,” he said, “You rock!”

Also honored but unable to attend were iHop Restaurant for its commitment to its staff; Arthur “Artie” Vermeal, a custodian at Lake Riviera Middle School; and Karen Yaegel, the anti-bullying coordinator at Brick Memorial High School.

In addition to Enspirited Projects, sponsors of the Hero Awards included Rich’s Automotive of Mantoloking Road, Brick and I DO Weddings.