UDHS Student Honored by Commonwealth for Medical Fundraising

Upper Dublin High School sophomore Emily Zauzmer is one of the unfortunate individuals who suffer from a range of food allergies, requiring her to be cautious as she moves through each day. However, fortunately for everyone, Zauzmer has been using her considerable talents and awe-inspiring initiative to help fund research of the ailment.

Zauzmer was recently honored with a citation from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, awarded by Representative Thomas Murt, after she was recognized as a 2011 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Distinguished Finalist. The award recognized her effort to raise funds in support of a peanut allergy study.

Three years ago, Zauzmer came up with the idea to start a website, “EZ Greetings,” where she sells e-greetings for all occasions. The greetings sell for $5 apiece, and all of the money goes to allergy research, specifically to Dr. Robert Wood, the Director of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center.

“I was able to meet him last year and he took the time to give me a tour and show me where the money raised is going, it was very exciting,” said Zauzmer.

“I started EZ Greetings-- the EZ are my initials-- because I wanted to help bring awareness and raise money for food allergy research. I have had them just about all of my life. Here at the high school they are very aware of my condition and all of my classrooms have signs saying no food in the classroom,” she said.

Zauzmer has raised $5,000 so far and hopes to double or triple that in the next year.

“When the site started in 2008, I created it in the basement of my house, with what is now antiquated programming,” Zauzmer said. “I only had a handful of songs available and I sent out information about the site to family and friends. Though I learned that Happy Birthday – one of the most popular songs I sell -- is copyrighted.”

However, Zauzmer and her father were able to receive special permission to use an instrumental version of Happy Birthday by a South African musical group. She now uses the song almost exclusively for her greetings.

From Happy Birthday to your dog or cat, or Happy Chanukah, and everything in between, Zauzmer has created a song for the occasion.

“My favorite are the happy birthday for the pets, but they are also the least popular,” she said, laughing.

Zauzmer also says she has promoted EZ Greetings by singing at an array of minor league baseball games, including the Camden Riversharks.

“It is always a great opportunity to promote the site and drive donations,” she said.

Apparently Zauzmer turned some heads with her singing, as she even got a call up to the big leagues to sing at Citizen’s Bank Park during a Phillies game.

 “I wasn’t allowed to promote my site there, but it was really exciting,” she said.

Zauzmer has also earned the respect of a number of UDHS faculty members.

“Emily is a great representative of Upper Dublin High School and the community,” said Michael Tedao, school counselor. “She is a special young lady and is wise beyond her years. She is one of those students who balance a rigorous academic schedule and can do all sorts of other things and do them well.”

Zauzmer says she will continue to add songs to her site and bring awareness to food allergies through her singing, and hopes that the money she raised helps solve the disease.

“At the very least, I am bringing awareness to the cause at school and through my site.”

To send an EZ Greeting log onto: www.EZgreetings.org