Middle School Fun Night Benefits Tomorrow's Children

kids piled into the new gym Friday night to dance, play games and more all while working together to help fellow youngsters and their families have a chance at some better tomorrows.

The Middle School Student Council organized the dance and activity night Friday to benefit the Tomorrow’s Childrens Fund (TCF) at Hackensack University Medical Center, said student council advisor Nichole Rucci. 

The TCF helps families of children who are being treated for cancer or serious blood disorders. It's a subject that hits close to home as there are two students in the school community currently being treated for such disorders, and one student recently lost a brother to leukemia, explained Rucci. 

During the benefit, students and parents heard from Debbie Steimel, whose 21-year old son Raymond recently lost his battle with leukemia. Raymond was a former student and his younger brother currently attends the middle school. Rucci said Steimel shared her personal experience with TCF, helping  others understand the many great things they do to help families of children with these illnesses.

Some of the student council members said many were so touched by Steimel's speech they were inspired to give even more.

“It was a very successful night,” said Rucci who added that $1,200 was raised by all the children in attendance. In addition many games were also donated for the TFC. Students had the option of paying a $5 donation to get into the benefit or donating a toy or game to the TFC.

On Tuesday afternoon members of the student council presented the collected games and toyitems to Roseanne Bialek of the Tomorrow's Children's Fund who visited the school to pick up the donations.

At the event, money was also raised for the TFC through sale of raffle tickets and tickets to play the multiple carnival games. The gym was split into two parts where one side was equipped with a DJ who spun music for the dance and the other part of the gym was devoted to the game play.

In addition they also sold paper hearts for $1 each which students could personalize with their name. They were put up on display in the gym during the dance and have since been put up in the middle school hall, said Rucci.

One student said many of the kids were happy to have the sixth, seventh and eighth grades all together at the same event, someting they don't normally get to do.  Another student said the kids really took advantage of all the fun games and raising funds for the TFC while playing. The root beer floats were also a bit hit, the students said.

Many local businesses took part by offering items for the raffle, and Curly's Ice Cream made the root beer floats, said Rucci.

Between the students, parent chaperones and teachers there were about 200 people in attendance at Friday’s benefit, Rucci said.