Sammi Feldman ‘08 Awarded President’s Volunteer Service Award
by Liz Warner
Sammi Feldman '08 has devoted a great deal of her own time to help underprivileged children in the area. Determined to create a program to help and organize events for children from the Big Brother/Big Sister organization and from foster care throughout Long Island, she formed Kidzz4Kidzz, an organization solely developed for the benefit of Long Island "at-risk" children, who face family and emotional challenges. The organization consists of about 60 or 70 student volunteers mostly from the Hewlett district as well as others from Lawrence and across the South Shore. Approximately 90 to 95 percent of the volunteers that help out with the Kidzz4Kidzz group are from Hewlett High School.
The program began last August at Camp Feldman/Camp Coleman in Merrick, a day devoted to the Big Brother/Big Sister children, to let them experience a day at camp firsthand. Feldman hopes that Camp Feldman, now in its second year, will become an annual event for Kidzz4Kidzz. This event gives about 35 children the opportunity to make new friends and share experiences with their peers. They can play ball, participate in arts and crafts, barbecue and swim.
"They absolutely loved it," Feldman explained. "It was such a great experience for the kids."
"It was such an incredible experience to work with kids who really looked up to us and see that we could give them a great friendship in return," said Cady Chaplin '08, a Camp Feldman volunteer for two years.
Feldman's motivation for her program developed from watching her father, David Feldman, a very active member in the Big Brother/Big Sister organization.
"My dad was always very involved in the organization," said Feldman. "Because he was a big brother for so long, he always came home and told me his stories. This inspired me to get involved."
Over the past three years, Kidzz4Kidzz has paired 25 high school students with foster children from Nassau County Social Services. This year the group of mentors and mentees went to Shea Stadium for a New York Mets baseball game. Together, they watched the baseball game, played various other games, and took pictures with the team's mascot.
"At the end of the game, I asked my mentee if he had a good time," Feldman recalled. "He said that he was so happy because now he had friends."
Feldman explained that this is the reason why she devotes so much energy, time, and efforts to the program.
Due to her hard work throughout the past three years, Feldman received the President's Volunteer Service Award, granted by President Bush's Council on Service and Civic Participation, a part of the USA Freedom Corps. The award recognizes and honors volunteers who set a standard of service for others in the community. The President's award is a recognition program for Americans of all ages. To receive the award; an individual, group or club needs to commit to a certain number of community service hours per year.
Feldman received an official Volunteer Service award pin along with a personalized certificate of achievement. In addition, she was sent a letter of congratulations from President Bush and one from the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation.
"My Administration encourages every American to help their communities and our country," said Bush in the letter. "Millions of acts of kindness and decency are changing America. Your actions are part of that change."
The council consists of Chairman Darrell Green, former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Robert Dole and former astronaut and Senator John Glenn.
"It was really great to get an award from the President," said Feldman. "I was really proud of my work."
Feldman was also awarded the Alexander Hamilton Citizenship Award, presented to her this past June at Hewlett High School. Twenty students throughout the nation were recipients of this award sponsored by the Alexander Hamilton Friends Association of Seattle. The organization helps to preserve Hamilton's legacy by recognizing and honoring students who emulate his strong sense of integrity, service and achievement.
"Miss Feldman has a purpose and a compassionate heart, and a driven personality,” sail George Cox, president of the Alexander Hamilton Friend Association.
"I'm hoping to keep increasing the program,” said Feldman.
"Everyone thinks that kids coming from a under-privileged area or kids who are in foster care will be troubled, but truly, they are just sweet and wonderful children who want to have a good time, “ Feldman stated, ''They just wanted to make new friends and spend some enjoyable time with others.”
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Sammi Feldman '08: Little Girl With Big Heart Helps Others
by Jennifer Faber
Sammi Feldman '08 organized an event that touched the lives of many underprivileged and unfortunate children. On Saturday, October 9, children from the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program in New York City gathered at Camp Coleman in Merrick for a day of fun, games, and laughter, all arranged by Feldman.
Feldman's first step in creating this one-day camp experience was to approach George Coleman, director of Camp Coleman, to ask if she could use the camp for the events and activities that would take place.
"My dad used to own part of Camp Coleman," Feldman said. "George Coleman let us rent out the camp for the day for free because he was one of our sponsors."
And so "Camp Feldman" was born.
According to Feldman, the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program is designed for children who have family-related or personal problems or are in low income families. These children are matched up with an older mentor, called a "Big," who can be 18 years or older. Once a "Big" is assigned to a "Little," they see each other for a few hours each week to spend time together, talk, and go to places they do not typically go with their parents.
"The mentors that sign up [for the Big Brothers Big Sisters program] need to meet specific requirements such as being a nice, successful adult who is good to others, has or had decent grades, and, who is a role model for kids," Feldman explained.
Feldman said that it was an event that all of the "Littles" wanted more than anything to attend because they very rarely leave the city.
"My dad, David Feldman is a Big Brother for high school kids in a different branch of the program," Feldman added. "This program teaches older kids how to get ready for college, interviews, and their futures."
The event at Camp Feldman ran from 10 a.m. to 4p.m. The children arrived from New York City with each of their "Bigs.”
Feldman gathered approximately 24 students from Hewlett High School, most of whom were freshmen, to run the activities that took place at the camp, to show the campers what to do throughout the day, and to spend quality time with the children. Thirty five "Littles" and 35 "Bigs" attended the program.
"I wanted this to be an event for kids, run by kids," Feldman said.
The sponsors such as Sterling National Bank helped to raise money for the games, food, and other necessities for the event to be a success and to flow smoothly.
Feldman was responsible for organizing the entire event, assigning the children to specific areas during the course of the day, and deciding what activities would be available.
Numerous events were organized to make the day an exciting one. Since most of the children had never played some of the games that were offered at Camp Feldman, it was a unique experience for them, she said. Activities included miniature golf, basketball, nucomb, kickball, arts and crafts, music, and playing on the playground set.
JoAnna Datz '07 ran the kickball activity at Camp Feldman.
"It was a lot of fun to be able to play with the kids and Bigs because they were so enthusiastic," Datz said. "I went up to my mom during the event and said, 'thank you' because it made me realize how fortunate I am to have every thing. I've got when there are so many people less fortunate than myself."
Another major activity that took place at Camp Feldman was "Buttball," created by Coleman.
"Four teams sit across from each other, and without using hands, you have to kick the ball, with your hands or head, back and forth to each team without letting it touch the floor," she said. "The kids really like that, it was a lot of fun."
Datz added that the volunteer staff received red t-shirts, and depending on their team, each other children received different color t-shirts as well.
"They had pizza donated for lunch, and donuts, ice cream, fruit, beverages, and other foods set up during the day for the participants," Datz added.
Towards the end of the event, there was a dance party with a DJ for the older children while the younger ones went to the playground.
Feldman is currently working to fundraise for the Big Brothers-Big Sisters program to take children to see the Broadway show"Brooklyn."
"The extra money We earned will go to next year's program,” Feldman explained.
"I think that everything went really well," Feldman commented, "and that the kids had a go.od time. It was good to see the children enjoying themselves."
"I think that it was really nice to. have given these kids something that they will remember forever," Datz concluded.
"This was a first time event," Feldman said, " and we want to make it a yearly one."
Feldman said that the best part of the day was when a child approached her mom and said, “This was one of the best days of my life."
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SAMMI FELDMAN Freshman
G. W. Hewlett High School Hewlett Neck, New York
"I truly believe there is no greater accomplishment than helping a child who has not had a very easy start to life," states Sammi, who last year with some help from her father came up with an idea to help such children. The idea, called Camp Feldman, evolved into a very successful one-day camp for children associated with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program of New York City. But for the idea to become a reality, Sammi developed plans, wrote event schedules, made speeches, raised funds, contacted adult mentors, and recruited 22 friends who volunteered to be counselors and activity instructors at the day-camp. The result was a remarkable event. One girl told a volunteer the camp represented "... the best day of my life." Encouraged by her success, Sammi is planning other Camp Feldman programs, and learning to deal with city and county governmental agencies. She admits some frustration at the approval processes required to put together these events -- social service officials have some concerns about teens taking charge of young children -- but has learned how to deal with, and satisfy the concerns of local officials. She has also started a club called Kids 4 Kids. The club has over 40 members dedicated to making a difference in the lives of children. "If we continue moving and accomplishing at the rate we currently are, throughout my lifetime, I can really help make this world a better place for children," she said.
Sammi lives with her parents, three-year-old brother, and her dog whose name is Crowny. She is found of English and music, loves choir, and participates in other school clubs such as Model Congress and Community Outreach. In addition, and just at press time Sammi learned that local social services officials had granted her permission to run a foster care mentoring program. Sammi continues to think big!