Jeans for Genes

Brentwood, N.Y. (March 2019)—Brentwood Union Free School District’s Laurel Park Elementary School recently took part in Rare Disease Day, a day in which communities around the world aim to bring attention to the number of rare diseases that impact hundreds of thousands of lives each day. Two of Brentwood’s faculty members, Jaime Bisagni and Jillian Disidore, teamed up to spearhead the philanthropic mission and fundraising efforts throughout Laurel Park.

“It’s important to discuss with our students the various ailments that affect thousands of people on a daily basis,” said Richard Loeschner, Superintendent of Brentwood Union Free School District. “Brentwood aims to bring awareness to the cause, to garner sympathy and understanding for those classmates and individuals whose lives are impacted. It is important that, as a community, we teach our children the necessity of philanthropy and how far-reaching a little help can be.”

Ms. Bisagni and Ms. Disidore organized an engaging and effective building initiative to raise awareness throughout the school for Rare Disease Day. Inspired by the National Organization for Rare Diseases, Brentwood’s staff had an incentive to wear jeans if they donated $5 in honor of the organization’s slogan, “Hope is in our genes.” In one day, Laurel Park raised a total of $200, all of which will be donated to the National Organization for Rare Diseases.

Beginning in Europe in 2008, Rare Disease Day takes place on the last day of February each year. Its main objective is to raise awareness among the public as well as policy makers, public authorities, health professionals and researchers. A disease is defined as “rare” in the U.S. when it affects less than 200,000 Americans at any given time. The goal of the individuals behind this event is to vastly increase knowledge throughout the general public, as well as encourage researchers and decision makers to address the needs of those living with rare diseases. Since its start, hundreds of thousands of lives have been touched.

For more information about the Brentwood Union Free School District, please visit the district’s website at www.brentwood.k12.ny.us. Happenings in the district can also be followed on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BrentwoodUnionFreeSchoolDistrict.