Gershow Matches $673 Raised by Students in Fight against Childhood Cancer
Company Was Inspired by Students’ Dedication and Efforts and Growing Participation in Program
Gershow Recycling announced it has pledged to match the $673 raised by students at William Floyd School District’s elementary schools, Kreamer Street Elementary School in Bellport, Holy Angels Regional School in Patchogue and Our Lady of Mercy Regional School in Cutchogue as part of “Can Tabs for Kids,” a program designed to raise funds for the fight against childhood cancer. The money will go to benefit the Sunrise Fund at Stony Brook University Medical Center, an organization that raises awareness and funds for specific projects to assist families. Gershow Manager Jonathan Abrams presented the check during a special assembly at William Floyd Elementary School that took place on June 6.
As part of the Can Tabs for Kids program, students brought in aluminum tabs from soft drink and pet food cans that their parents purchased and placed them in collection bins located in their classrooms. Each week, the bags were taken out of the bins and brought to Gershow, where the contents were weighed and recycled. Gershow received approximately 2 million tabs from the students, weighing a total of 1,234 pounds and worth $673.
The idea for the program was inspired by Maria Marks, a William Floyd Elementary School student who was diagnosed with cancer at a young age. Between the ages of two weeks and six months, she underwent numerous chemotherapy sessions. The constant exposure to the radiation resulted in Maria losing her hearing in both ears and now she must wear hearing aids. Her cancer has since been in remission.
The program has since expanded, with participating schools including Kreamer Street Elementary School in Bellport, John S. Hobart Elementary School, Nathaniel Woodhull Elementary School, Holy Angels Regional School in Patchogue, and Our Lady of Mercy School in Cutchogue, as well as St. Jude Parish Outreach in Mastic Beach. It has also been brought to the Towns of Brookhaven, Smithtown and Islip.
The Sunrise Fund was established to raise awareness about childhood cancer and the special needs of such children throughout local communities. The money used by The Sunrise Fund sustains cutting-edge research and family programs such as support groups, a School Re-Entry Program and many others. Since the establishment of this program, more than $4,500 has been raised.
According to the American Childhood Cancer Organization, approximately 13,000 children in the United States under the age of 21 are diagnosed with cancer, and one in four die as a result of the disease.
“Gershow Recycling is proud to have been part of Can Tabs for Kids,” Mr. Abrams said. “The children surpassed all expectations in their participation in this wonderful program and providing support to their fellow classmate. We are also glad to have seen this program expand throughout the William Floyd School District, the Towns of Brookhaven, Smithtown and Islip and other schools as well.”
“We would like to thank Gershow Recycling for their generous support,” said Keith Fasciana, principal of William Floyd Elementary School. “I am also very proud of Maria Marks, the students who participated in this program and their families, for all their hard work and dedication in collecting over 2 million can tabs.”
