Massapequa High Schoolers Raise Thousands For Charity

Two Massapequa High School clubs raised thousands of dollars for charity, and gave the money away recently.

Massapequa High School’s Dog Rescue Club raised more than $1,300 for Paws of War and Ruff House Rescue, and representatives from the organizations visited the school on June 20 to accept the donations.

Each organization received $680. Students in the Dog Rescue Club held bake sales, movie nights and T-shirt sales to raise funds throughout the school year. Advisor Christina Sabbiondo said that the students wanted to give to organizations that rely solely on donations.

Lionel Bauman and his companion, Mr. Wrinkles, were on hand to accept the donation for Paws of War. He spoke to students in the club earlier this year about the role of service dogs and the work the organization does to provide dogs for veterans and first responders at no cost. All of the service dogs that Paws of War trains are rescues.

High school coordinator volunteer Jodie Cohen represented Ruff House Rescue, along with a pair of dogs up for adoption. Students from the Dog Rescue Club volunteered at numerous Ruff House Rescue adoption events this year.

This is the Dog Rescue Club’s second year at Massapequa High School. It was founded by students to raise awareness about pet adoption and to support local organization that fulfill this mission.

“It’s really good to give to a cause that not a lot of people know about and I hope more people become aware,” Dog Rescue Club President Erica Hensler said. “Rescuing dogs, rather than shopping, is much better.”

In addition to helping dogs, students were also helping kids battling cancer. Massapequa High School’s environmental club, Team ECHO, presented a $3,000 donation to NYU-Winthrop Hospital’s Cancer Center for Kids on June 21. Heather Dall’Aste, development manager for the Cancer Center, accepted the donation.

Team ECHO raised the money at its 5Alive Fishin’ for a Cure event in Freeport on June 1.