Order Spring Flowers to Support Y.E.S. and Used Sneakers to Dunk Your Kicks
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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The Youth Employment Services (Y.E.S.) Office is celebrating spring with its annual Think Spring Flower and Plant Fundraiser. The sale starts immediately and orders must be submitted by Friday, April 8th. Plants will be delivered before Mother's Day.
It's easy to order online here or look for an order form on the Y.E.S. Facebook page. You can also stop by the Y.E.S. Office at the high school to pick up a brochure and order form.
If you have any questions or need further information, please call Susanne Jones at 914-391-9875, or email Lian Wang here.
Dunk Your Kicks for Pediatric Cancer
Backyard Sports Cares (BYSC) 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament Fundraiser, will take place on April 16th at Iona Prep, and get an added boost from teen volunteers and Dunk Your Kicks, a national campaign to raise awareness and funds for pediatric cancer by recycling and selling used sneakers.
Scarsdale High School student and BYSC volunteer Leah Glucksman is working with "Dunk Your Kicks, to collect gently used sneakers that can be donated. On April 16th 2016, Leah, along with other volunteers, will be working the Dunk Your Kicks booth at the BYSC fourth Annual 3-on-3 Adult Basketball Tournament at Iona Preparatory School in New Rochelle, NY. You can help make the tournament a success by collecting your gently worn sneakers that you no longer use and bring them down to the tournament. For further information on how to make a difference and get involved as a volunteer, please visit their site.
Dunk Your Kicks Drop Boxes Locations:
Beginning April 1, 2016, gently used pairs of sneakers without too much signs of wear can be brought to Dunk Your Kicks drop boxes maintained at the below locations. Prizes will be awarded to the person who donates the most kicks! Please place your sneakers in a secure bag with your name and telephone number. All sizes are welcome.
- FLYWHEEL SPORTS, 826 Scarsdale Avenue, Scarsdale
- MYX FITNESS, 1142 Wilmot Road, Scarsdale
- RIPPED FITNESS, 14 Rye Ridge Plaza, 2nd Fl Rye Brook
- QUAKER RIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, 125 Weaver Street, Scarsdale
Anyone interested in entering a team in the 3-on-3 Basketball tournament on April 16, 2016 at Iona Preparatory School in New Rochelle should click here.
A Salute to the Bronx at the JCC
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The JCC of Mid-Westchester held its 2016 Annual Benefit "A Salute to the Bronx" Thursday, March 3, 2016 at the JCC. Over 230 guests attended the event and enjoyed the opportunity for its supporters, volunteers, and sponsors to celebrate and connect with the community. The JCC also awarded its JCC Community Service Award to the great architect Daniel Libeskind. The sold out crowd enjoyed hearing highlights of what it was like growing up in The Bronx. The discussion was moderated by retired New York Times editor Joseph Berger. According to Arlene Alda "What was happening in the Bronx, is really a microcosm of the immigration cycle in New York and beyond". This is one of her main themes in the book Just Kids from The Bronx "We are so grateful to all those who made this evening such a wonderful success," said Karen Kolodny, Executive Director of the JCC. "We know that the JCC makes a difference in the lives of the residents of this community every day, so we really wanted to share that story with our guests." This year's committee was chaired by Laura Miller, Board member and Scarsdale resident, and Sheila Friedland, a friend of the JCC.
Paddle for a Cause Raises $1,325 in Memory of Paul Jimenez
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- Written by Lynne Elcik
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On March 3rd, Scarsdale Golf Club hosted a new paddle tournament event, "Paddle for a Cause". In response to the significant growth of the ladies paddle tennis program, Ian Longua, SGC's Director of Racquet Sports, and the club's MIPTL flight 9 team captains have had to be creative to provide a variety of paddle tennis opportunities for their newest team players.
The Scarsdale Golf Club ladies paddle team program has recently seen an increase in its number of players. New players have nearly doubled in number, in each of the last three years. In addition to Ian, Bill Minard, General Manager, and Connie Mintzer, Director of Sales and Catering, were key supporters in getting this new tournament idea implemented in a short six week time frame.
Paddle for a Cause was envisioned as an opportunity for players new to paddle tennis to participate in a tournament venue. There are several tournament opportunities for the more experienced paddle players throughout the season. Players new to paddle are also interested in participating in more match opportunities, but don't necessarily want to join venues where they are significantly out played.
Paddle for a Cause was available only to flight 9 players - 
the beginning team level in MIPTL. Players signed up in pairs and identified which charity they were supporting. A portion of the registration fees went to a tournament pot to be donated to the winning pair's charity of choice The tournament was fully subscribed in two weeks after opening for registration. For this year, the registration was limited to 12 pairs, although the hope is to expand for next year and include more levels of play.
Players came from many Westchester County Clubs including Scarsdale Golf Club, Fox Meadow Tennis Club, New York Athletic Club and Coveleigh Club. Charities Identified by players before the tournament began included: Happy Hearts, Memorial Sloan Kettering, My Sister's Place, NY Pet Rescue, Friends of Pelham Public Library, GoFundMe: Help Laverne Sharon Kick Cancer (a Fox Meadow teacher), PaulieStrong (Pediatric Cancers at Memorial Sloan Kettering), SoulRyders, and Autism Speaks. Players were encouraged to dress in support of their charity. SGC's Charlotte Byers and Carol Wolfe were best dressed in support of NY Pet Rescue.
The championship round was played by Tammy Fine/Debbie Holstein of FMTC playing for Memorial Sloan Kettering and Claudia Uribe-Galeano/Leslie Andersen of SGC playing for PaulieStrong. Tammy and Debbie were the winners of the finals. In the true spirit of charity before the championship round began both pairs agreed that regardless of the result the tournament pot would be donated to PaulieStrong. The PaulieStrong Foundation was developed to support research for pediatric cancers in memory of Paul Ulysses Jimenez, a Greenacres School student who lost his battle with cancer this year. A total of $1325 was raised.
Congratulations to all tournament participants. It was a fun day, built a great sense of community among neighbors and raised money for a worthy cause.
Mah Jong Benefit for WP Hospital, Scarsdale Residents Honored by TIC
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The Friends of White Plains Hospital held their third annual Mah Jong and Martinis fundraiser at Bistro 808 in Scarsdale on Thursday, March 3rd. More than 60 women attended the event, which included cocktails and Mah Jong play, and provided participants an opportunity to hear about the substantial growth and expansion initiatives at White Plains Hospital. Chaired by Wendy Berk and Eileen Meyers, both of Scarsdale, the event raised funds for the refurbishment of the White Plains Hospital pediatric playroom.
Julie and Warren Breakstone Honored at Temple Israel Gala
Assemblywoman, Amy Paulin, speaking on behalf of over 400 attendees, expressed gratitude to Scarsdale residents, Julie and Warren Breakstone as outstanding Young Leaders, and to honorees, Rosalee and Morty Weinstein, last Saturday evening at Temple Israel Center of White Plains' Annual Gala. Michelle Steinhart, TIC White Plains' Director of Inclusion, received Special Tribute. Scarsdale resident, and president of TIC White Plains, Ellen Salant, delivered further accolades, as well as White Plains mayor, Tom Roach and Rabbi Gordon Tucker. For more details about this festive event go to www.templeisrarelcenter.org.
Scarsdale Women Make 500 Sandwiches for Those in Need, UJA Awards Grants
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Forty Scarsdale women came together to make 500 sandwiches to feed those who might otherwise go hungry at the JCC of Mid-Westchester in Scarsdale on February 24, 2016. The sandwiches, made by UJA-Federation of New York's Scarsdale Women's Philanthropy, will be distributed to clients of the Bronx Jewish Community Council (BJCC), a UJA-Federation beneficiary agency. BJCC's food pantry, which serves anyone in need, is the third-largest in the borough, serving more than 3,700 meals per month, with demand increasing each year.
"Sandwiches: part of our daily routine, right? A simple meal that we take for granted," said Event Chair Liz Brucker of Scarsdale. "But did you know that by making sandwiches for the food pantry at Bronx Jewish Community Council, we are feeding the hungry and saving lives?"
"This event allows us, as a community, to fight hunger 
and food insecurity in New York and around the world, a major priority at UJA-Federation and right in line with its mission," explained Brooke Fina of Scarsdale, who also served as an event chair. "UJA supports nearly 100 health, human-service, educational, and community nonprofits that improve people's lives. One hundred nonprofits that help 4.5 million people each and every year. Think about that for a minute. Everyone in this room is a part of creating that change."
UJA Grants:
UJA announced that it is awarding grants in excess of $10,000 to local synagogues that use Baby Boomer volunteers in local outreach projects for those in our community who are most in need.
These grants are part of a pilot program of UJA-Federation of New York's Engage Jewish Service Corps, whose mission it is for Boomers and beyond to effect powerful change within the community through hands-on activities. Engage Westchester is involved with curating and linking people with organizations who need help with hundreds of projects in Westchester. The recipients and projects of these grants cover a wide array of activities and represent various geographic communities throughout Westchester. The recipients and projects awarded are:
Larchmont Temple - Activities focused on arts and crafts, dance, music and the environment with children living at The Coachman in White Plains
Congregation Sons of Israel (Briarcliff Manor) - 
1st project - Monthly community Ha Mishpacha luncheons in which both Engage and CSI volunteers will bake and serve food for the elderly and participate in a June sing-along under the direction of Engage in Song; 2nd project - Soup in a Jar project for the Ossining Food Pantry
Temple Israel of New Rochelle - 1st project – March, sorting and packing for The Sharing Shelf teen girl clothing event which will be taking place in April; 2nd project -volunteers participate in a June cooking class with New Rochelle restaurateur while preparing food for Community Services Associates
Shaaray Tefila/Greenburgh Hebrew Center/Temple Beth Abraham (Tarrytown)/Congregation Emanu-El (Rye) - May 22nd Needlecrafts Mitzvah Day of knitting, crocheting and quilting to benefit vulnerable children, teens and adults in Israel.
Upon hearing that her synagogue was one of the recipients, Judy Boehr, Social Action chair at CSI Briarcliff said, "... Receiving this money will make a big difference for two groups of people in need: Our monthly "Hamishpacha" luncheon program for seniors... Our guests look forward to this program as a way of socializing and learning each month. Because of this generous grant, we will also be able to provide "soup in a jar" to families who use the Ossining Food Pantry. Each week needy members of our community come to the Pantry to select groceries. Being able to provide the ingredients for a nutritious pot of soup will definitely help them feed their families. We are happy to be able to add project to our ongoing work with the Pantry. Thank you, Engage." Deborah Blatt, Social Action Chair at Temple Israel of New Rochelle added, " ... we are already working to build opportunities for our empty-nesters. We are excited that this grant will allow us to pair our synagogue's community service work with these opportunities." For more information on Engage Service Corp please contact engage@rosnethaljcc.org or call Maida Silver at (914)741-0333 ext. 48.
