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2009 Circle of Strength Members

Brian's 8th Birthday Treasure Hunt
A party was held for Brian's friends to celebrate his 8th birthday this spring. One of the activities at the party was a treasure hunt, where the boys went on a scavenger hunt for hidden treasure. After all the pirate booty was found, this incredibly generous and thoughtful group of 8-year-old boys decided that instead of keeping the money for themselves, they would donate it all to Lauren's First and Goal in memory of 11-year-old Christian, the cousin and friend of the boys who recently lost his battle with a malignant brain tumor.


Cindy Miles and Associates Dress Down Day
Lauren has been in physical, occupational and speech therapy since she was nine months old. Over all these years, she has had many wonderful and caring therapists, but none like the team at Cindy Miles and Associates. Not only are they the most knowledgeable, caring and dedicated group, but they are so much fun! Throughout this entire year, the staff participated in Dress Down Day every Wednesday, making a donation to the Dress Down Day fund. Well, all those dollars add up, and in June, they presented LFG with a whopping $400! Thanks so much for your thoughtfulness and generosity!


Connetquot High School
The school supported Lauren's First and Goal by hosting Patrice for an author's visit and purchasing copies of Hope is Here to Stay.


Danbury High School (CT) Football Car Wash
Members of the Danbury High School (CT) football team held a car wash to benefit LFG in May 2009. The Danbury Gridiron Club presented the foundation with a check for $500 from the car wash at the LFG camp in June.
Austin Caliclo, 15, a freshman football player, said he thinks the car wash is "a good opportunity for us to help kids who are less fortunate. I think our football team will really benefit from doing this."
The team has a new head coach, Dan Donovan. The Danbury Gridiron Club, the parent organization that supports the football program, secured donations for the bus to Pennsylvania, including one from the Robert Martin Co. of Elmsford, N.Y. The school's Athletic Department also contributed to the donation the Gridiron Club will present to the camp directors upon arrival, said Austin's mom, Sharon Caliclo, the Gridiron Club treasurer.
"I feel it is critical that we instill in our young adults the importance of learning to give back and participate in community service events," she said. "What better way than to raise money to donate to organizations that help young children who are suffering with cancer and their families, and a football camp is the icing on the cake."
Thank you very much for your generous contribution and for your support of LFG!


Dawn and Brett Comp Wedding
The bride and groom made a generous donation to LFG in honor of their special day.


Dublin-Jerome (OH) Girls' Lacrosse
Once again, the Dublin-Jerome (OH) Girls Lacrosse team sewed, stuffed and tied hundreds of neck coolers for the coaches at this year's Florida camp. Lauren's Aunt Jean, and cousin Gabriele spear-headed the service project, and thanks to the hard work of the girls, the coaches will stay cool on the field in the Florida heat this June. Thanks girls! Go Celtics!


Easton HS Almost Anything Goes
Easton High School's Almost Anything Goes competition is an annual event held each spring. Students and staff battle each other in crazy relay events to raise funds for local charities. AAG has generously donated proceeds from this great event to LFG. Thank you to the senior captains for nominating LFG as the charity of choice and for all those who participated with such enthusiasm. Lauren loved the Balloon pop!!


Ed Adamko's 9th Annual Golf Outing
Ed, one of our wonderful neighbors, organizes a golf outing for friends and neighbors each fall, with proceeds benefiting a local organization. For the second straight year, Lauren's First and Goal was the beneficiary. Proceeds from the raffle after golf tripled from last year, and this fantastic group of almost 60 friends and neighbors, led by Ed, raised $1800 for Lauren's First and Goal!!


Gregg Henry's Marathon Run
Gregg ran the Via Marathon here in the Lehigh Valley on Sept. 13 in support of LFG and surpassed his fund-raising goal of $1,000. Although Gregg has been a distance runner for several years, this was the first time that had run for a specific cause. Thanks to Gregg and everyone who helped him meet his goal!


Idle Hour Beach Club Golf Outing
The Idle Hour Beach Club in Oakdale, N.Y. held a members' golf outing in August and donated a portion of the proceeds totaling $1,032 to LFG.


Jaclyn and Becca's Yard Sale Snacks
Two neighborhood sweethearts, Jaclyn and Becca, held a bake sale at the neighborhood yard sale and donated the money they raised to help Lauren's First and Goal. Thank you girls for being so generous and thoughtful!


Jason Hilber's Ziploc Bag
Christine and Jason Hilber of Odessa, Fla. and their army of neighborhood volunteers were instrumental in preparing for and executing the first-ever LFG camp in Florida. Their 5-year-old son, Justin, was so intent on helping that he emptied the entire contents of his piggy bank into a Ziploc bag and presented it to John at the camp on June 7.


Lafayette Player Volunteers
Since the camp's inception, members of the Lafayette College football team have volunteered to help set up the day before camp and assist during camp. Some stay here in Easton for the summer, and some drive in from their hometowns to be here to help for the weekend.


Lauren's First and Goal Radio Advertisements
In an effort to raise awareness about Lauren's First and Goal, four couples graciously sponsored two weeks of radio public service announcements on CBS 880 in New York. The advertisements featured Jay Feeley of the New York Jets and Josh Bailey of the New York Islanders, along with Lauren herself. A special thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Andreassi, Mr. and Mrs. John Collins, Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Nastasi and Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Conroy for their generosity in helping to spread the word about Lauren's First and Goal.


Nesconset Elementary School
The school supported Lauren's First and Goal by hosting Patrice for an author's visit and purchasing copies of Hope is Here to Stay.


Northampton High School
Led by business teacher Beth Donnelly, students participated in a paper goods drive to furnish the foundation with cups, plates, napkins and other products for use at the football camp in Pennsylvania. Not only did they supply the camp with all the paper goods for the camp, but many included notes and cards wishing Lauren well.


Notre Dame High School
Here is another great example of kids helping kids. Led by senior Bridget Tavani and advisor Mrs. Fenton, students at Notre Dame could opt to participate in 'Dress Down Day' each week, making a donation in exchange for the privilege of a uniform-free day of classes. Students amassed an amazing $2,000 and donated the funds to LFG.
In the fall, Notre Dame also held a mini THON event (modeled after Penn State's famous THON) to benefit the Four Diamonds Fund, another children's cancer organization which benefits Hershey Medical Center. They invited Lauren and Gracie to pump up the sleepless dancers, and the girls had a great time leading the conga line around the gym. We are so appreciative of the students' caring and generous hearts. Go Crusaders!!


One Meaning, Couture with a Conscience
A Manhattan-based jewelry and apparel boutique identified Lauren's First and Goal as its Charity of the Month for December. The owners, Karen Chesleigh and Ingrid Hobbs, donated 8.13 percent of all sales that month to LFG. The total raised by this generous gesture was $1,325.


Paul J. Bellew Elementary School
The school supported Lauren's First and Goal by hosting Patrice for an author's visit and purchasing copies of Hope is Here to Stay.


Paumanok Elementary School & Third Graders' Refreshment Stand
The school supported Lauren's First and Goal by hosting Patrice for an author's visit and purchasing copies of Hope is Here to Stay. Inspired by the visit, the third grade students hosted a refreshment stand the following weekend and donated proceeds to LFG.


Run for a Cure
Tracy Elementary teachers entered teams in the Lehigh Valley Half Marathon. They run in honor of Lauren and Lauren's First and Goal! Teachers who have participated include: Ms. Barker, Mr. Case, Mr. Durie, Miss Getz, Mr. Rice, Mr. Spalding, Mrs. Stofanak, Nurse Dee, Ms. Kocher, Miss Donato, Mr. Cinoa, Cadet Kocher and Mrs. Mulrine. With the generous support of the Tracy Elementary community, this terrific team has raised almost $13,000 in support of Lauren's First and Goal. Lauren, our family and the Foundation are so grateful for your support, enthusiasm and dedication. It was so exciting and inspiring to see you all enter the stadium for the last 1/4 mile. Great job!


Sarah Holloman's Sweet 16 Party
Sarah Holloman, a sophomore at Easton Area High School, recently made a special gift to Lauren's First and Goal. Sarah's brother Chris was in the same kindergarten class as Lauren and the Holloman family has been extremely supportive of Lauren over the years.
Instead of a traditional Sweet 16 birthday party, Sarah asked that her friends not bring gifts, but instead, bring dollar bills to buy raffle tickets for prize baskets and jewelry that she had been collecting all year. She donated the money she raised to LFG.


St. Anthony's High School, South Huntington, Long Island
Led by J. Andreassi, this group ran a sausage and pepper concession stand at the 2009 Lauren's First and Goal Football Camp at Lafayette College. They provided all of the food and volunteers, prepared everything and donated all of the proceeds to LFG.


Tuckahoe Common School
The school supported Lauren's First and Goal by hosting Patrice for an author's visit and purchasing copies of Hope is Here to Stay.


Wade and Gwen's Hot Dog Cart
Wade and Gwen ran a hot dog cart at the Lauren's First and Goal Football Camp at Lafayette College and donated all proceeds to LFG.


Women Association of Savings Institutions NY
WASI NY designated Lauren's First and Goal as their charity of the year for fundraising. The group hosted Patrice at their annual dinner in November, purchasing copies of Hope is Here to Stay in addition to their generous donation to LFG.


Yoga on the Beach
In a very creative and healthy way to raise funds and awareness for LFG, Lauren's Aunt Patrice taught a week-long series of morning yoga/pilates classes on the beach for members of the Idle Hour Beach Club in Oakdale on Long Island, N.Y. Not only did participants enjoy the five mornings of exercise, stretching and relaxation on the shores of the Great South Bay, but they helped raise more than $800 for LFG in the process. Read more about it in this feature (please link attached PDF here) from the Suffolk County News. OK - deep breath in, and warrior pose ladies!

holloman_web.JPG Featured Member

Featured Member

Sarah Holloman’s Sweet 16 Party, December 2009

Sarah Holloman, a sophomore at Easton Area High School, recently made a special gift to Lauren’s First and Goal. Sarah’s brother Chris was in the same kindergarten class as Lauren and the Holloman family has been extremely supportive of Lauren over the years.

Instead of a traditional Sweet 16 birthday party, Sarah asked that her friends not bring gifts, but instead, bring dollar bills to buy raffle tickets for prize baskets and jewelry that she had been collecting all year. She donated the money she raised to LFG.

Yoga on the Beach

Yoga On the Beach.JPG Yoga on the Beach

Cindy Miles & Associates Dress Down Day

logo2 Cindy Miles & Associates Dress Down Day