Old Brookville, NY - November 29, 2016 - This fall, the Green Vale community undertook a host of charitable and service initiatives. Under the direction of Valerie Field and Cathy Iannotta, students engaged in grade-appropriate projects on behalf of carefully determined causes. By design, the causes encompass local, regional, and global organizations. They reflect a blend of student-driven and teacher-selected initiatives. The following is an overview of ways in which the efforts and generosity of our students, parents, and faculty served the greater good this fall.

Kids Connect
As the service component of the Halloween festival and the flagship service event of the fall, Kids Connect began with a wish-list for donated items for each grade level. Students then partnered with older-younger buddies to sort the items according to destination charity. They also used this event to make pet toys for North Shore Animal League. Other items went to:

• Independence Inn (support for homeless youth)
• Long Island Cares Food Bank (6 boxes of food)
• North Shore Sheltering Program (6 boxes of food sent)
• SCO Services (support & services for special needs youth and adults)

Pictured: 6th graders from the Green Vale School decorating cupcakes for 17 families living in shelters. Photo by: The Green Vale School.

Birthday Wishes of Long Island
Green Vale's 6th Graders agree with this organization that every child deserves a birthday party. That's why they decorated cupcakes for 17 families currently living in shelters. (Thanks to faculty who gathered supplies and did the baking: Theodora Dellicicchi, Brianne Dishaw, Karenn Ressa, Kristin Nastos, Cathy Iannotta, and Kevin Kane.)

Breast Cancer Research Foundation
8th Grader James Yarian submitted a proposal to devote proceeds from October bagel sales to the cause.

Glen Cove Boys & Girls Club
The Lower School classrooms collected items and divided into baskets of ingredients for 17 individual families to prepare a traditional Thanksgiving meal. In addition, they provided $300 toward gift cards for turkeys.

Guardian Angels Family Crisis Center
Each week, groups of 6th  Graders provide ingredients and prepare sandwiches for this Sea Cliff services facility that helps families in crisis reestablish security.

Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders)
Faculty donated and sponsored the shipping of two full boxes of shirts, candy, power bars and stickers to MSF in South Sudan.

Operation Gratitude
The Upper School Interact Club collected 147 pounds(!) of Halloween candy to thank active duty US military servicepeople worldwide.

Strength for Life
A group that works to provide exercise opportunities for cancer patients, this the annual beneficiary of efforts by the Green Vale Pacers, a girls' running, wellness, and mentoring club. Through a car wash, breakfast sale, and participation in the Evelyn Knapp 5K race, Pacers raised $2,500.


Pictured: Green Vale students at the North Shore Animal League. The students created toys for the pets. Photo by: The Green Vale School.

Vet Dogs
This year's 8th Grade Service Learning Initiative will be aligned throughout the year with efforts related to mental health. This fall, students have chosen to focus on Vet Dogs, a group that provides trained support and companion animals to veterans with PTSD, amputations, and other difficulties. Selling baked goods and homemade dog toys raised $500 in an initial push for this effort, and a moving video shown at assembly raised awareness.

UNICEF
Green Vale trick-or- treaters began the process of collecting change and bills earmarked for Hurricane Matthew relief in Haiti. Amounts are still coming in, but over $700 in change has already been counted.

The Green Vale School, located in Old Brookville, Long Island, is an independent school specializing in Early Childhood through Middle School situated on a 40-acre campus on the doorstep of New York City. Green Vale has been providing students with an uncommon core of academic excellence and character development since 1923 – inspiring students to excel, to lead and to care.