Page 24 - 12th Annual Long Island Imagine Awards Program

Rising Star

Jamie Rapfogel, Director Suzanne Chimera, Co-Founder
Birthday Wishes of Long Island Hair We Share
15 Cantiague Rock Road, Hicksville, NY 11801 4 Expressway Plaza, Suite LL14, Roslyn Heights, NY 11577
(516) 390-3505 | www.birthdaywishes.org (516) 484-8483 | www.hairweshare.org
Birthday Wishes’ mission is to provide birthday celebra6ons to children experiencing homelessness. We Hair We Share is born from a second generation family design business operating since 1972,
believe that all children, regardless of their living situation, should celebrate their birthdays owned by Co-Founder Dean Riskin. Our mission is to maintain dignity, confidence, and self-
joyfully, surrounded by family, friends, and others who care. Our grassroots philosophy fosters esteem for those affected by hair loss. We have a deep understanding of how hair loss can be
the spirit of volunteerism and community service in the adults, children, and families who devastating, and how a natural looking wig can have an uplifting effect. We provide beautiful
donate their time and resources to the Birthday Wishes mission. Though the mission is simple high quality natural looking wigs free of charge.
the need is great. As more and more families experience homelessness, they don’t have the
means to celebrate birthdays in a meaningful way. Many times we have heard that without our Our journey began in 2013, inspired by a teenage girl, Brooke. Severely depressed from alopecia,
help, the child’s special day would have passed without even a candle to blow out, something Brooke’s face lit up when she saw a wig we designed on 20/20, she told her mom “Please, I will
most kids take for granted every year. do anything, get me that wig.” Recognizing the financial burden, we posted on Facebook, asking
people to send us their hair. Within a weekend 42 people chopped off their locks and sent them
We are continually working to expand our program to fulfill the need of the families we serve. to us, another group of people rallied, covering the manufacturing expense of Brooke’s wig.
In addition to our birthday boxes... a celebration box filled with everything a child needs for Thus, a sense of community emerged – a tapestry of donors weaving hope for one person. Our
a fun birthday including homemade cupcakes and, of course, presents we have added several Ponytail Tracking Program allows donors to witness the transformation: a photo of the wig
new programs. Our Birthday Duffle, similar to our birthday box is packaged in a duffle bag crafted from their hair. Today, hair arrives from all around the globe, we receive over 80,000
for teens and more transient families who often transport their belongings in garbage bags, our ponytails a year. Notably an astronaut aboard the International Space Station sent her hair to
Teen Program includes gift cards and items most requested by teens and most recently, our earth via SpaceX- reminding us that compassion has no bounds.
Baby BIRTHday Bundle... a baby shower packaged in a newborn tub to provide new mothers
items most needed when bringing a baby home. Whether it’s cancer patients, trauma survivors, or any other form of medical hair loss, we stand
ready to make a difference – one strand at a time.

Bernie Furshpan, Director of Marketing and Public Outreach Zack Andersen, COO
Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County Little Saint Nick Foundation
100 Crescent Beach Road, Glen Cove, NY 11542 131 Main St, East Rockaway, NY 11518
(516) 571-8040 | www.hmtcli.org (516) 837-3335 | www.littlestnick.org
The Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County is Long Island’s only Holocaust The Little Saint Nick Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, mission is to
Museum. It was founded in 1992 by a group of Holocaust survivors, clergy, and elected officials. create a positive mentality for kids in crisis through the compassionate power of a helping
HMTC showcases the history of the Holocaust and its lessons through education and community hand. We impact local communities by providing community service opportunities where kids
outreach. Its Mission includes teaching about the dangers of antisemitism, intolerance, racism, of all ages pack our St. Nick Gift Bags and make Inspiration Cards for pediatric patients within
bullying, and all other manifestations of bigotry. HMTC promotes resistance to prejudice and our partnered healthcare facilities. Through our promise of “Kids Inspiring and Helping Kids,”™
advocates respect for all. The organization regularly calls out acts of anti-Semitism and hate — LSNF strives to lift kids up and realize their full potential.
making both national and local news.
LSNF was founded in 2004 by Raymond Mohler Jr. at age six. Ray had a scary hospital
HMTC provides Holocaust and upstander education to high school and middle school students experience as a child but was able to leave the hospital after one day. Feeling fortunate that he
from across Long Island. Tens of thousands of students and several hundred first responders, didn’t have a life-threatening nor permanent disease, Ray decided he needed to give back to
including law enforcement and nursing students are impacted. Each year students hear a live the kids whom he left behind at the hospital who were not as fortunate. Ray’s mission – even
survivor testimony and tour the exhibits. HMTC also trains teachers and hosts programs for the at his young age – was to help relieve the fear, anxiety, and isolation experienced by children
general public, both in person and virtual. related to a child’s hospital visit. Ray’s birthday is Christmas Eve, which has been the driving
force of empowering the giving spirit every day of the year.
HMTC exhibit space is comprised of six galleries that include artifacts and images from survivors
who settled on Long Island. You’ll find multimedia displays, photographs, artifacts, archival In 2024, our foundation is celebrating 20 years of service to others. We have impacted the
footage, and testimonies. It also looks at genocides that have happened in the years since 1945, lives of over two million kids and distributed more than 100,000 gift bags across Long Island and
asking visitors to think about the actions an individual can take to prevent the spread of hate. throughout New York City. The foundation was born on Long Island, and we’ll continue to
HMTC’s outdoor exhibit, The Children’s Memorial Garden, is dedicated to the 1.5 million implement our programs for the betterment of the community.
children murdered in the Holocaust and World War II.

23 24