MitzvahMarket.com Features Real Kids Making A Real Difference

JERICHO, NY, October 14, 2010 (Press-News.org) Our children are growing up surrounded by excessive violence, exposure to hate and questionable role models, yet many of them are making a positive mark on the world through their creative and effective "Mitzvah Projects."

According to the dictionary, a "Mitzvah" is any good or praiseworthy deed. Many children are required to come up with a Mitzvah Project as part of their Bar/Bat Mitzvah rite of passage, but many are doing "Mitzvahs" before, during and even after their official Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebration.

Kids are effective agents of change when they put their minds to it. When they choose a Project they are passionate about, they can make a difference locally and globally. Mitzvah Kids have created Mitzvah Projects to raise money for Save Darfur in order to buy stoves for families in that region. Closer to home, Mitzvah Kids have organized Pancakes for Parkinson's events to raise funds and awareness for The Michael J. Fox Foundation. And their efforts are not going unnoticed. Non-profit organizations are realizing that Mitzvah Kids and their Mitzvah Projects can make a real difference. The staff of charitable organizations works to have their organizations be considered as the beneficiaries of these Mitzvah Projects.

"At The Michael J. Fox Foundation, we have seen the power of a Mitzvah Project," says Sheila Kelly, Director of Team Fox, the Foundation's grassroots fundraising arm. "These kids have such outstanding ideas and energy, and we are always thrilled when they choose MJFF as the beneficiary of their efforts."

Kelly is aware that yes, Mitzvah Projects can raise significant funds that benefit the Foundation, but she also acknowledges the awareness the Kids are able to raise for Parkinson's research and programs.

Most kids have that terrific quality that comes with youth and innocence: they believe that anything is possible, and with a positive attitude, you can forge ahead with an idea and find fantastic results. When you see these Mitzvah Kids in action, you see that the results are real, and they are fantastic indeed!

Maybe it will inspire adults to do a little Mitzvah or two....


Name: Paige Gindi
Hometown: Syosset, NY
Project: Mitzvah Trust
Details: Paige put a percentage of her Bat Mitzvah gift money into a specially created trust fund and will decide on a different charity each year to make a donation to. To date, she has made two donations: The Guide Dog Foundation and the Morgan Center in Plainview which helps preschool aged children who are battling cancer.
Link to the full story: http://www.mitzvahmarket.com/mitzvah-spotlight/projects/mitzvah-trust/

Name: Zak Levenstein
Hometown: Roslyn, NY
Project: Youth Renewl Fund - http://www.youthrenwalfund.org
Details: Zak organized a concert to benefit the Youth Renewal Fund and the Ethan H. Freed Learning Center. Ethan was a fellow camper from Zak's sleepaway camp who died at summer camp on July 3, 2006, just a few days before his 13th birthday.
Link to the full story: http://www.mitzvahmarket.com/mitzvah-spotlight/projects/youth-renewal/

Name: Sydney Epstein
Hometown: Woodmere, NY
Project: Pancakes For Parkinson - The Michael J. Fox Foundation
Details: Sydney held a pancake breakfast at the local firehouse and raised more than $10,000 for The Michael J. Fox Foundation in honor of her grandfather who suffers from Parkinson's.
Link to the full story: http://www.mitzvahmarket.com/mitzvah-spotlight/projects/pancakes-for-parkinsons/

Name: Allison Grey
Hometown: Woodbury, NY
Project: Ronald McDonald House
Details: Allison decorated over 60 pairs of flip flops to donate to the Ronald McDonald House to use as a part of their welcome gifts. She received help from her Hebrew School, pre-school, school, camp, and also family members. She even had kids in her school decorating flip flops during their lunch hour.
Link to the full story: http://www.mitzvahmarket.com/mitzvah-spotlight/projects/children-with-soul/

Name: Alyssa Woldar
Hometown: Woodbury, NY
Project: Camp Simcha
Details: Alyssa collected and donated small toys and travel games for Camp Simcha. Camp Simcha is a camp that helps children who have a terminal illness go out and have fun for one or two weeks.
Link to the full story: http://www.mitzvahmarket.com/mitzvah-spotlight/projects/making-camp-special/

MitzvahMarket.com and its weekly email newsletter Mitzvah Market Mail are designed to be services for Moms by Moms. The goal is to deliver useful and timely information so you will be "in the know" when it comes to Mitzvah planning. Please visit us at http://www.mitzvahmarket.com or email us at sheri@mitzvahmarket.com.