To the editor:
The Joan Angela D’Alessandro Memorial Foundation is grateful to Daisy Brownie Troop 8301 from Mahwah for their recent drive, which collected 36 coats for Joan’s Joy to present to the kids at YCS Holley Child Care & Development in Hackensack and Davis House in Newark.
The coats ranged in size from toddler to young adult and were hardly used. Some were new.
The foundation is grateful to the children and their leaders—Michelle Fiorito and Ana Maria Meizys—for collecting the coats, and was so happy to see the children helping children who have less.
On Sunday, Jan. 5, Joan’s Joy sent 40 children and staff from YCS Holley Child Care & Development in Hackensack to see the closing of “Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes” at Radio City Music Hall.
I went to see the children before they left and wished them a good time. For many of these children, this a once in a lifetime experience for them. Joan’s Joy is thankful to all the supporters who donated toward tickets and bus rental. Their kindness and generosity warm the hearts of the beautiful youth by giving them an experience that will have a positive impact on their lives.
The Joan Angela D’Alessandro Memorial Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization supporting neglected and abused children through fun and educational excursions. For five years we’ve been sending at-risk children from the Holley Center in Hackensack to Six Flags Great Adventure and shows at Radio City Music Hall.
Additionally through the foundation, children at YCS Davis House in Newark have gotten summer toys, music instruments, and fun trips. The program has expanded to support Covenant House New Jersey, sending the young people from their shelter in Newark to a concert and a Mets game.
There are thousands of talented and dedicated people behind the important work of The Joan Angela D’Alessandro Memorial Foundation, too many to host all at once. But we thank them all, most sincerely.
For more information, visit http://joansjoy.org.
