Legislators Berland, Donnelly Applaud Student Donations

Press release from Office of Legislator Susan A. Berland:

Dec. 1, 2020

“Bringing a smile to these children’s faces is the greatest reward,” said Emily and Grace Sullivan. Emily, a senior at Half Hollow Hills High School West, and her sister Grace, a rising freshman, along with their friends Gianna and Vanessa Tantillo raised $9,281 for KiDS NEED MoRE, a North Amityville based not-for-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of children, families, and young adults coping with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. $2,005 of their total was raised during the sisters’ “Volley for a Cause,” event, which was held outdoors late this summer.

“The thing about KiDS NEED MoRE that is so meaningful to us is that we get to help children who are battling cancer at such a young age,” said Gianna and Vanessa, both students at Half Hollow Hills High School East. In addition to the funds, the sisters virtually collected and donated over 400 toys to kids in need. “We have been volunteering for the past several years and wanted to ‘do more,’ so we ran the childhood cancer awareness toy drive. KiDS NEED MoRE is a wonderful organization,” added Emily and Grace.

KiDS NEED MoRE traces its origins back to 1990 when a group of concerned parents created a camping experience for their children who were diagnosed with cancer and their siblings. Camp Adventure, as it has come to be known, now serves the east coast and tri-state area and remains one of the only camps of its kind to serve child cancer patients. In 2013, a dedicated group of Camp Adventure volunteers founded KiDS NEED MoRE to parent the camp and ensure its longevity.

“I couldn’t be prouder of Emily, Grace, Gianna and Vanessa,” said Legislator Susan A. Berland. “In raising these funds and collecting these toys to donate, they have demonstrated a profound commitment to helping others, which I trust will only continue to grow. KiDS NEED MoRE, and the families they assist, are well-served by the kindness and hard work of these incredible young women, and I was honored to present them proclamations.”

“I salute Gianna, Vanessa, Emily and Grace for their outstanding and selfless work in collecting toys and raising money for KiDS NEED MoRE,” said Legislator Tom Donnelly. “I was privileged to recognize them for their successful efforts on behalf of such a wonderful non-profit organization that is doing such remarkable work enhancing the lives of children and families faced with life threatening illnesses.”

This press release was produced by Office of Legislator Susan A. Berland. The views expressed here are the author's own.