Instructors and Students Ride for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
November 2005
Back in 2005 Ms. Kastner, along with several instructors, students, friends and family members embarked on a huge fund raising and training event. They all committed to ride in the El Tour De Tucson in Arizona for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Click the link below to read the article which was featured in the Asbury Park Press:
Shane R.
January 2010 – Project to benefit the Associated Humane Society
Shane is nine years old (in the Third Grade) and began studying Taekwondo, a Korean martial art, 4 years ago in Brielle. His instructor, Alicia Kastner, a 6th Degree Black Belt, opened her school back in 1992 and has participated in many acts of kindness over the years. Taekwondo is about dedication, hard work, and stresses not harming others and never to be abusive or offensive. Shane loves going to class and does so two to three times a week. He has been doing it for almost half his life. Besides teaching her students self defense, building their self-esteem, self-control and confidence, she also gets her students to think of more than just themselves.
As part of attaining the rank of Black Belt, he and the other Black Belt candidates, are asked to perform a community service project. Shane immediately thought about helping to save animals that have been hurt or abused. He typed up a flyer, spoke to his school’s Principal and got the ball rolling. Thanks to the generosity and concern of his classmates and other students at the Old Mill School in Wall, he was able to collect over $500. – worth of food and other pet supplies for the Associated Humane Society of Tilton Falls. Shane and his father picked up the donations on Friday January 15th and delivered them the next day to the animal shelter. Shane was very proud that he could make a positive difference in the lives of these animals.
With so much negative in the world gaining the attention of media every day, we thought it might be nice for people to know, that often, children and adults are trying to make the world a little better through small acts of kindness.
Thanks,
Pictures are included of Shane and his Principal Eric Laughlin, as he picked up the donations and of Shane making the delivery to the Humane Society.
Michael A.
August 2009 – “Give A Ball A Bounce”
Michael has embarked on a long-term community service project in collaboration with St. Gregory’s Pantry in Pt. Pleasant, NJ. Michael has been collecting different sports items to be donated to underprivileged children. For each sports season he collects the sports items relevant to that season. Right now he is collecting baseballs and baseball themed items. In total he has collected over 70 sports balls.
Barbara B.
March 2009 – Historic Schoolhouse Restoration in Alabama
Barbara hosted a “Food Fear Factor” to raise funds for the annual UBBT’s mission in rural Greensboro, Alabama. Barbara will travel to Greensboro to work on restoring a historic schoolhouse in May 2009. This will be Barbara’s 3rd trip to this area.
Update – Barbara was unable to attend the build this year in Alabama due to a death in her family. However she did hold another “Food Fear Factor” and raised a total of $500 which was sent down to Greensboro and used for the build this year.
Ryan D.
December 2008 – “Holiday Mail For Heroes”
Reprint from Red Cross Jersey Coast Chapter Newsletter:
Ryan D., a 3rd grader at Allenwood Elementary School in Wall, NJ, was required to do a community service project in order to receive his Black Belt in Taekwondo this March. He contacted the Jersey Coast Chapter and asked, “How can I help?” After speakingwith the Community Resource Director he chose to work on the Holiday Mail for Heroes campaign. He wanted to help the Red Cross achieve their goal of collecting 1 million holiday cards to spread cheer and to say thank you to the brave soldiers and their families during this past holiday season.
Ryan went approached the Allenwood Elementary School Principal, his Taekwondo Instructor and both his and his brother’s soccer team coaches explaining what he wanted to accomplish. He was given full support from everyone to have the holiday cards mailed to our service men and women around the world.
Ryan was able to collect 660 cards to be distributed to the service members in time for the holidays. Ryan witnessed, first hand, the amazing outpouring of love and the beautiful and sweet sentiments of each card and was truly grateful to be a part of an amazing and worthwhile event.
The staff at the Jersey Caost Chapter is very proud of Ryan. Ryan has proven to everyone that it only takes one person to make a huge difference and that with a little heart and determination anything can be achieved.
Jack P.
September 2008 – “Walk Now for Autism Speaks”
Each year Jack, along with his family and friends, participates in the “Walk Now for Autism Speaks”. This is a national annual event to raise money for autism awareness.
Brett D.
October 2008 – Halloween Candy Drive II
For the second year in a row, Brett collected candy to send to US soldiers. Below is the letter he sent out to everyone to thank them for their participation:
Hi Everyone,
I would just like to thank everyone for helping me with my Black Belt Community Service. In all, I collected 144.5 pounds of candy to donate to the soldiers and I couldn’t have done it without your help.
Together with my family, I brought all of the candy to Dr. Ronen Rotem’s office in Toms River. He is a dentist who was also collecting candy to send to our Troops.
Soldiers in places like Iraq and Afghanistan will benefit from our candy drive. Our soldiers will use the candy to make friends with the young kids. Perhaps someday, these kids can be our friends too and we’ll have peace.
Thanks again to everyone who was so generous in donating your extra Halloween candy. It made me feel good to do something special for our troops. Thanks for helping my candy drive to be so successful.
Your Friend,
Brett
Brett D.
October 2007 – Halloween Candy Drive
Brett collected over 100 lbs of Halloween candy! This candy was brought to Dr. Rotem’s office. Dr. Rotem is a dentist in Toms River. The candy was then sent to our soldiers serving in the Middle East.
