Page 25 - 12th Annual Long Island Imagine Awards Program
P. 25

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.

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