W.T. Clarke celebrates 14th Change for Change ceremony

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Local charitable organizations gathered in the auditorium of W.T. Clarke Middle School in Salisbury for the service learning club’s 14th annual Change for Change Giving Ceremony on May 31.

Students started collaborating on this project in the fall, researching and selecting 11 nonprofit organizations that hold significance for the club’s members.

They collected roughly $2,500 throughout the school year through various fundraising events and initiatives such as the school’s Dunk Tank and the Long Beach Polar Plunge.

It all culminated in the giving ceremony, where students presented donations to representatives of local charities, including the Book Fairies, Long Island Cares: Music to Meals, the school’s Giving Tree, March of Dimes, Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association, Last Hope Animal Rescue, America’s VetDogs, John Theissen Children’s Foundation, Sunrise Day Camp, Make-A-Wish and the Epilepsy Foundation.

The ceremony opened with the presentation of the Be the Change Award to technology teacher Elliot Oppenheim for his efforts, contributions and support of the service learning club and all W.T. Clarke events. Principal Stacy Breslin also thanked five-year advisors Katie Peretzman and Ashley Sanalitro.

Each organization was then introduced and welcomed by students in the serving learning club, who provided a brief explanation of the charity and awarded a plaque of recognition along with the donation check.

—Brian Stieglitz