The savvy students from Angels for Veterans and the Academy of the Holy Angels Basketball Team used a dress down opportunity to raise funds for Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon, Inc. and Beyond Borders. The two groups developed and cohosted Socks for Soldiers, which allowed students to wear “crazy socks” to school in exchange for a $2 donation. 
“I was so thrilled to see the fundraiser come together,” said Reilly Guy of Fair Lawn, leader of Angels for Veterans. “We'd been planning the event with the basketball team for a few weeks now, and just coming into school and seeing everyone with their socks made me really happy. We were able to raise $219 for Adopt-a-Soldier from this fundraiser, which we'll combine with the money we made from our bake sale to make a total of over $400. Although we're not a club directly for soldiers, we're always happy to raise money for causes like Adopt-a-Soldier, especially because it's an organization that is supported by our basketball team's tournament.”

Eighty percent of the groups’ proceeds benefit Adopt-a-Soldier. Twenty percent is being donated to Beyond Borders to further that organization’s work in Haiti. Raising funds for Haiti is a school-wide effort this academic year.

In addition to Reilly Guy, Angels for Veterans members include Kristina Migliaccio of Franklin Lakes, Reese Orlofsky of Hoboken, Kathleen Bing of Hasbrouck Heights, Olivia Papp of Hawthorne, Samantha Polizzi of River Vale, and Anna Rakowski of Clifton. 

AHA Registrar Angela Kunz is the moderator of Angels for Veterans. The basketball teams are led by Coach Susan Liddy.

AHA Varsity Basketball Team, which also pitched in by participating in a tournament/fundraiser, includes Amanda Bonilla of Bergenfield; Daria Coll and Emily Danahy of Oradell; Giovanna Corbisiero of Franklin Lakes; Amanda Garcia of New Milford; Celeste Harper of Englewood; Sara Machado of Tappan, New York; Caelan McHugh of Sparkill, New York; Suzanna Odusote of North Haledon; Kyra Sapontzis of Park Ridge; Samantha Serrano of Nanuet, New York; Catherine Tuohy of Cresskill; and Cecilia Yun of Closter.

JV Basketball Team members include Maria Akalonu of New City, New York; Lilliana Cardamone of Glen Rock; Anna Casale and Isabella Perillo of Hasbrouck Heights; Julia Covino of Sparkill, New York; Lara Kraus of Englewood; Gabrielle Maimone of Englewood Cliffs; Jaden Sabathia of Alpine; Alexis Shick and Genevieve Tuohy of Cresskill; and Julia Toker of Teaneck.

In 2020, AHA received a special thank you for “adopting” the 114th Infantry of the New Jersey Army National Guard. The regiment sent AHA a 50-star field panel made by Annin Flagmakers. The soldiers signed the panel while they were serving in Qatar.

Based in Fair Lawn, Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon uses donations to send healthy snacks, coffee, exercise kits, and other items to deployed troops. AaSP is a non-profit and is run by volunteers.
 

Post Type: