Community Magazine September 2011

88 Community magazine SAFE Outdoes Last Year’s Fundraiser Nearly 400 people gathered at the home of Cookie and Stanley Chera on Tuesday, July 12, 2011 for the ninth annual SAFE Foundation Dinner. Appropriately enough, the event happened to take place just days after the passing of Betty Ford, an iconic woman who fought to change the stigma associated with addiction. SAFE, now in its ninth year of operation, is working towards a similar goal. The evening turned out to be one of SAFE’s most successful fundraising events yet, raising 10-15 percent more than last year, despite the down economy. Steven Bissu, the night’s honorary speaker, attributed the overwhelming response in part to the inspiration guests felt after hearing about SAFE’s work firsthand. And even among the many who were unable to attend the event, the response was overwhelming, as callers flooded the phone lines with pledges. “These donations are very much appreciated, as the number of people SAFE is working to help continues to grow exponentially,” Bissu says. SAFE is a multifaceted organization that concentrates on preven- tion, intervention, and recovery from addiction. SAFE runs a New York State licensed outpatient drug program, rated as one of the top addiction programs in the state, as well as Project SAFE, a school prevention program. With a dedicated staff and supportive community, the SAFE foundation has been running a successful office in Brooklyn since 2003, and a second location in Deal since the spring of 2010. Working in total privacy, SAFE earns the trust of its members through a guarantee of anonymity. The organization is extremely accommodating to the community, with an admission system designed for maximum ease of entry. “SAFE does not hand you a clipboard filled with pages inquiring about your personal life,” said Bissu. “You are welcomed with open arms, no questions asked.” If you or someone you know needs help, please call the confidential toll free hotline, anytime 24/7, at 866-569-SAFE (866- 569-7233), or visit www.TheSafeFoundation.org . High School Student Starts Hesed Movement Three years ago, having experienced the joy of hesed while he and his friends made The Alphabet Kids Talent Show to benefit the world-renowned St. Judes Children Hospital, Isaac J. Kassin was determined to take this hesed further. Utilizing the Hesed Hour requirement in his school curriculum at the Magen David Yeshiva, Isaac, along with his friends Jonathan Cohen and Yoni Chaya, thought of ways to maximize this time set aside for hesed. It was then that “The Charity Crew” was born. He pitched his ideas to the other boys in Magen David, and the idea began to grow into a full-fledged, resoundingly successful movement. The “crew” runs a wide variety of meaningful hesed projects. They go to the Ahi Ezer Senior Center and participate in monthly Bingo games, sponsor a canned food drive for the SBH food pantry, and manage a basketball tournament to benefit the Ronald McDonald Houses. In addition, honor students worked together to create review sheets for tests which they sold, earmarking the profits for SBH. The Charity Crew has visited Ohel and Imagine, and work as vol- unteers for SBH. They sponsored a benefit for Pencils of Promise, an organization which builds schools in poor countries. The list of charities and hesed organizations that have benefited from this grassroots movement is long and still growing. A girls’ division of the Charity Crew at Magen David is now in the formation process, and Isaac is in communication with other schools that want to set up their own Charity Crews. Isaac is available to discuss any details of the Charity Crew and to help set up similar programs in other schools. He can be contacted at 1917-361-4335. – Pnina Souid Rabbi Eli J. Mansour and Stanley Chera Ike Dweck, executive director; Steven Bissu, honorary speaker; and Eddie Gindi, president Stanley Chera (second from left) and SAFE Foundation Dinner guests Community Chest