Friendship Walk at Westfield Garden State Plaza
By Mel Fabrikant Friday, September 21, 2007, 11:43 AM EDT
On September 9, 2007, The Friendship Circle of Bergen County successfully hosted its first New Jersey Friendship Walk, a community-based charity event sponsored by Westfield Garden State Plaza and designed to increase awareness for local special needs children. Over one thousand people were in attendance, including special performances by child entertainers Sholom Jacobs, Aryeh Pearlman, Bobby Doo Wah and Uncle Moishe.
A non-profit project of Friends of Lubavitch of Bergen County, the Friendship Circle was founded by Rabbi Moshe Grossbaum and his wife, Zeesy, in 2003 as a way to help special needs children feel like they are a part of the community. The program pairs teenage volunteers with these children and involves both in a series of fun activities that promote togetherness and friendship, such as sports nights, children's circles, holiday programs and winter and summer camps, among others.
“We are so grateful to each and every person who came to our event,” says Rabbi Grossbaum. “When we founded The Friendship Circle, we hoped that it would foster a sense of belonging for the special needs children of our area. The large turnout at our Walk helped us to see that our mission was a success, thanks to the tireless help of our volunteers and families.”
A non-profit project of Friends of Lubavitch of Bergen County, the Friendship Circle was founded by Rabbi Moshe Grossbaum and his wife, Zeesy, in 2003 as a way to help special needs children feel like they are a part of the community. The program pairs teenage volunteers with these children and involves both in a series of fun activities that promote togetherness and friendship, such as sports nights, children's circles, holiday programs and winter and summer camps, among others.
“We are so grateful to each and every person who came to our event,” says Rabbi Grossbaum. “When we founded The Friendship Circle, we hoped that it would foster a sense of belonging for the special needs children of our area. The large turnout at our Walk helped us to see that our mission was a success, thanks to the tireless help of our volunteers and families.”
