Monday, March 12, 2012
The Levittown resident honored the memory of his son at a St. Baldrick's event at Jackie Reilly's in Bethpage.
The Eicheles lost their son, Tanner, to cancer last year. This year, they're fighting to save other children with cancer. Andrew Eichele, Tanner's father, had his head shaved at Jackie Reilly's in Bethpage on Sunday as part of a St. Baldrick's fundraiser. The organization shaves the heads of individuals who raise money for pediatric cancer research. Melissa Eichele, Tanner's mother, helped shave her husband's head. Their younger son Chase was also at the event. Numerous individuals from Levittown and surrounding towns had their heads shaved for the event. It was the second consecutive year that Jackie Reilly's hosted the fundraiser. Tanner Eichele appeared at the fundraiser in 2011. Tanner's story was published by Patch on Friday and was …
Friday, March 9, 2012
Tanner Eichele was just 3-and-a-half years old when he died last year. His parents are honoring his memory by fundraising to help sick children.
At the center of an end table in the Eicheles' dining room is a poster dedicated to their son, Tanner. There are two photos of him, two blue hand prints and a flier for a fundraiser in his honor. At the bottom of the poster is a nameplate, in all lower case letters, that reads "tanner jayden 2007-2011." The Eicheles lost their son to brain cancer in April of 2011. They put the poster together in his memory. But it's not the only way they're honoring him. Last year, his parents, Melissa and Andrew, got involved with the St. Baldrick's Foundation, which raises money for pediatric cancer research. This Sunday, Andrew will shave his head to raise money for the charity. Tanner was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a brain tumor, in Sept. of …
Friday, January 6, 2012
The Adelphi student is heavily active in the school's Circle K program and works for different charities on an international level.
It's rare to find any 21-year-old that dedicates a significant portion of his life to community service, but Levittown has one in Rickie Santer. The Division Avenue grad and Adelphi University student has a lengthy list of service accomplishments. Included are awards from county, national and international organizations, as well as successful donation and fundraising programs he's chaired. "He’s just a dynamo, a terrific leader and a motivator," said Catherine Blotiau, who is the coordinator of the Nassau County Safe Kids Coalition. "He gets the Circle K students involved in projects, and then he himself has been involved. He’s just an amazing young man." Santer first involved himself in service with his father's Builders Club while in …
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Ashley Tonno also holds fundraisers for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society; her father is battling non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
Family members make sacrifices when other family members need their help. Ashley Tonno's sacrifices, however, go above and beyond. Nearly eight years ago, her father, Nick, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Once she found out, the Island Trees grad started working with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for a cure. Today, she runs long-distance races as a member of the society's Team in Training. She also holds fundraisers at local bars to raise funds for a cure. "Anything that has cancer in it, a charity case, I’m ready to raise money for what I need to raise it for," she said. "I’m very fortunate to have family and friends who support me 100 percent and are always reaching inside pockets to give, whatever it is. Even if it’s a …
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
The Levittown resident collected coats for a fifth straight year.
Lindsay Gruntorad's annual coat drive was a success this holiday season, as the Levittown resident collected a total of 619 coats. Gruntorad informed the Levittown Patch of the final total via email on Dec. 28. This was the sixth consecutive year she organized the coat drive, which she originally started as a Division Avenue High School student. Gruntorad donated 160 coats last year and set a goal of 200 for this year's drive, which was significantly eclipsed. Gruntorad, who now works at a funeral home in Queens, was profiled by the Levittown Patch in October. The story was later picked up by the Huffington Post. Gruntorad was also recently named one of Patch's "Most Influential People" in 2011.
Friday, December 23, 2011
The Island Trees Middle School teacher organizes a program that donates pillow cases throughout Long Island.
Samantha Bunster sews a lot of pillow cases. "My husband makes fun of me," she said. "My kids have a pillow case for literally every holiday that exists. I'm not kidding." She puts those pillow cases to good use. Three years ago, Bunster saw a story in Martha Stewart Living on Cindy Kerr, the founder of ConKerr Cancer. The international organization decorates and donates pillow cases to sick children in hospitals. Once she read the article, she knew she had to get involved. "I was already making pillow cases like crazy for my kids for the holidays, so this was a perfect match for me," she said. "I contacted them, and [Kerr] said I could be the regional coordinator for Long Island." As regional manager, she organizes the creation and …
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Bobby Cassidy Sr. fought both people and alcoholism; now, he's using his tale to help others.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
- Justin Izzo
-
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Bobby Cassidy Sr.’s life changed for the better on Jan. 28, 1974. At the time, it looked like it could be a day that destroyed him. His divorce from his wife was finalized that day, on their anniversary. He showed up for a fight against Jorge Ahumada – the undercard to the second Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier heavyweight championship – after a day of, as he put it, “drinking myself to death.” He was knocked out that day. Soon after, he decided enough was enough, and gave up drinking. He’s been sober ever since. Now, at 67 years old, the long-time Levittown resident is sharing his story of survival in a play titled "Kid Shamrock" that will open a 10-day off-Broadway run this Friday. "It can reach a lot of people [when you're] the one who nearly …
Monday, October 10, 2011
The 21-year-old started a coat drive in high school; she also works for a funeral home in Queens.
- VOLUNTEERS IN THE NEWS
- Justin Izzo
-
Monday, October 10, 2011
Some people have a life-changing experience that shows them what to do with their lives. Lindsay Gruntorad had two. Six years ago, Gruntorad, then a Division Avenue High School student, volunteered at a food drive in Harlem. While there, she noticed that the people receiving food were in dire need of coats. It affected her to the point that she pestered family members and friends to donate coats. A year later, she returned with 50. That was the first of Gruntorad's annual coat drives. This year will be year six. The organization receiving the coats is different (in recent years, she's donated to St. Bridgid's Church in Westbury). The drive is bigger, too (she donated 160 coats last year). But the motivation is still the same; help those …
Friday, September 30, 2011
Despite a difficult 2011, she continues to work hard and stay positive.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
- Justin Izzo
-
Friday, September 30, 2011
To call Jacki Walton's 2011 a tough year would be an understatement. Since January, she's lost her husband to a heart attack, had breast cancer and cataract surgeries and saw a fire destroy almost everything in her house at the end of August. You might think that such a year would break someone’s spirit. But Jacki Walton keeps pushing on. "I don’t want to sit around and dwell on it and feel sorry for myself," she said. "What are you going to do? It is what it is." The house fire was on Aug. 30, the day before Walton's birthday. She was at her daughter's house celebrating when her niece got a call about the fire. When she rushed back, she saw fire trucks stretching across the block. The fire got so hot that bullets from her husband’s …
Dave Van Aken
1:44 pm on Tuesday, March 13, 2012
The strength of the Eichele's is amazing. When we shave at this event and honor Tanner, we honor you and all of the other families who find the strength to help in this horrific fight. I am proud of my brother and all of the other adults and children who shave to help raise funds in the never ending effort to find a cure, and in the case of St. Baldrick's, it's to find a cure for the true … more ›