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Altruism

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Food Pantry to Unveil Annual Giving Tree

Morris Plains' Interfaith Food Pantry will honor individuals and groups that helped feed the needy.

The Interfaith Food Pantry in Morris Plains will host a dedication ceremony Monday, March 8 at 11:30 a.m. to pay tribute to those whose donations for its 2012 capital campaign led to a whopping take of $2.7 million. The organization will unveil its 2012 Annual Giving Tree to mark the end of its Harvesting Miracles campaign, which paid for construction of the IFP's new resource center at 2 Executive Drive, which opened in November 2011. The giving tree, to be displayed in the resource center lobby, features the names of approximately 185 groups and individuals that contributed 1,000 pounds of food or $2,000 or more between January and December of 2012. Also being unveiled at the event are wall plaques listing major contributors to the …

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Random Acts of Kindness in Parsippany

Use the hashtag #PatchRandomActs on Facebook or Twitter to spread the word about a selfless act you witnessed or experienced in your town.

Have you noticed your friends or neighbors making a difference in the township? Patch wants to know about it! Whether it's taking a stray dog to a shelter, taking out trash for a sick neighbor, making a contribution to the local Girl Scout troop or helping out in a community garden, every random act of kindness is appreciated by the community. We want to see how many random acts we can inspire across the United States in the 905 communities Patch covers. If you know of someone who has done a good deed in or near Parsippany, tell their story in the comments section below. Also, be sure to spread the word on Facebook and Twitter by using the hashtag #PatchRandomActs. To keep the momentum going and it pay it forward yourself, here are some …

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Lajos J. Bartucz

8:10 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013

Most CERTainly CERT is the way to go for me as I have been a member for the past 3 + years! -It is a terrific way go give something back to the people of the wonderful Township we live in! -Let us expand our membership by getting in touch with the Mayor's Office! -Great way also to getting to know now better your good neighbours and to make some fantastic friends too! -With kind regards, -see you…   more ›

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Par-Troy Realty Company Helps Raise $2K+ for Children's Miracle Network

RE/MAX First Choice staffers helped out during a pancake fundraiser at the Boonton IHOP.

Staffers at Parsippany's RE/MAX First Choice Realty in Parsippany joined together to do their bit for charity on Feb. 5. The realty firm pitched in to assist at a pancake lunch hosted by the Boonton International House of Pancakes as part of IHOP's National Pancake Day, which benefits the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. RE/MAX is one of the Children's Miracle Network's largest corporate partners, having raised nearly $100 million for pediatric illnesses since 1992. This was the eighth straight year that the Parsippany office contributed to the effort. Alongside IHOP Boonton's General Manager Sue Prekel and her staff, RE/MAX First Choice employees greeted customers, answered questions and assisted in raising money for the cause, …

Monday, February 11, 2013

Local Boy Raises $13K+ for Young Neighbor with Cancer

A Parsippany/Boonton kid shaved his head—and inspired others to join in—for a good cause.

An 8-year-old township boy took it all off to help a friend. Matthew Santana, wanting to help Peyton Zitelli, a 19-month-old neighbor battling a rare pediatric cancer, shaved his head in a fundraising effort to help her family defray medical expenses. In the end, his generous action raised more than $13,000 for the effort. The Santanas and Zitellis live in the Boonton mailing address area of Parsippany. The event took place last Saturday at the Blackthorn Irish Restaurant and Pub. Young Matthew gamely allowed his head to be shaven, and about seven others—children and adults— shaved theirs as well. The boy came up with the idea after hearing that the Zitelli child wa diagnosed with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare cancer that forms in …

Carol M.

8:15 am on Tuesday, February 12, 2013

God bless Peyton, Matthew and both their families; what a wonderfully moving story. I am awe struck to see one so young leading by example, and with such amazing donation results! Thank you Matthew, you have reminded us of what's truly important in life and inspired us with your message of the great things we can accomplish when we work together for the good of others.   more ›

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Boonton Boy and Blackthorn Pub Team Up to Fight Cancer

An 8-year-old is shaving his head and raising funds to help a young neighbor battling a rare cancer.

An 8-year-old Boonton boy is making a big sacrifice to support a young neighbor battling cancer. Matthew Santana, wanting to help Peyton Zitelli, a 19-month-old neighbor battling a rare pediatric cancer, decided to show solidarity with the toddler, reported the Daily Record. Hearing the young girl would lose her hair after chemotherapy treaments, the boy decided to shave his head. Young Peyton has alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare cancer that forms in muscle tissue. She receives treatments during weekly visits to a clinic in Philadelphia.  And in the meantime Matthew, with the help of his father, Ray Santana, is raising funds via the Facebook event Pledges for Peyton, by collecting sponsors for his head shaving to bring attention to the …

Ray Santana

1:25 am on Monday, February 11, 2013

Yes, this is true. Matthew's event was a huge success for the Zitelli family. He started this campaign on January 30th and has raised $14,000 so far for the family.   more ›

Monday, December 17, 2012

Rainbow Lakes Drummer Uses 2nd Chance to Help Others

Area musician who had a liver transplant earlier this year plans benefit concert to help other patients.

Friday, December 14, 2012

Scholarship Program in Memory of 9/11 Victim to Expand

Friends of Marty will boost the number of students eligible to receive scholarships in 2014.

Parsippany resident Martin Boryczewski lives on in the hearts of his friends more than 11 years after he was lost in the September 11 attacks in New York City. And in 2014, community service efforts launched in his honor will expand, according to his best friend. Since Boryczewski's untimely passing, the nonprofit Friends of Marty Inc. has hosted an annual golf outing that raises funds for deserving students at his alma mater Morris Catholic High School. And now, more students will have a chance to receive scholarships. "In 2014, we will expand our award scholarship funds to students at St. Peter’s University where Marty also excelled," said Ron Dollard, who heads Friends of Marty. "From the beginning, we’ve chosen to help students in need…

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Morris Teen's Warm Hats Bring Hope, Spread Giving Spirit

Emily's Hats for Hope helps needy people in Morris County and beyond.

The holiday season is supposed to be about doing good to benefit others. A Morristown High School senior apparently has taken that message to heart to help needy people in Parsippany and throughout Morris County. Emily Kubin, 17, is the founder of the Emily's Hats for Hope Initiative. Since its start last year, the teen has used her talent for knitting to fashion winter caps. The caps, including others donated by community members, are distributed to social-service nonprofits in the county, including the Interfaith Food Pantry in Morris Plains. Emily's mother, Jill Kubin, said her daughter initially was reluctant to launch her own charitable effort. "She was worried that she would not be able to help everyone who needed help," said Kubin…

CAZ

10:24 pm on Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Excellent!! Great story. Very caring young lady with much initiative. Keep it up.   more ›

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Giving Tuesday Highlights Giving Back

If you're not all spent out, you might consider the next pre-holiday effort.

If you survived Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, you may be feeling a bit bruised in the wallet and looking for something to lift the spirit. If you disapprove of the consumerism inherent in the mass shopping days that start the holiday buying season, you may be looking for a more soul-warming activity. Welcome Giving Tuesday. You won't find testy shoppers, menacing crowds or pressure on this day and you don't even have to spend cash if you don't want to or don't have any. This day is designed to encourage holiday shoppers to give their time and/or treasure to nonprofit community service organizations and pursuits. The holiday website boasts more than 2,000 recognized Giving Tuesday partners from across the country. …

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Parsippany Realtor Gives Needy Families a Taste of Thanksgiving

Re/Max First Choice's Jacqueline Scura said she has a responsibility to give back to her community.

Thanksgiving traditionally is the start of the Christmas season, the annual time where doing good for others takes center stage. That's certainly the case at RE/MAX First Choice Realty in Parsippany, which is owned by veteran realtor Jacqueline Scura. For many years, Scura has organized an annual outreach event to provide holiday dinners to economically struggling area families.  Called "Thanksgiving Dinner in a Bag," the idea behind the effort is to make sure families have an old-fashioned turkey dinner with all the trimmings on the big day. The bagged meal also allows these households the opportunity to have the holiday cooking experience so many find memorable. Last year's event had an especially big response because many families were …

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