Walking 4 Friendship raised awareness, money and spirits BY GRANT MILLER Publisher My brother Michael and I recently participated in Walking 4 Friendship, a 3k walk and carnival that benefit- ed the Friendship Circle of Miami. This was the sixth year of the event and it’s one we wouldn’t miss. More than 1,000 children, teens, parents, grandpar- ents and supporters came together on the Friendship Circle campus to walk and raise awareness and money for this program that offers recreation and services for children, teens and young adults with special needs. Each year, the walk and carnival get bigger and more money is raised. Through email and social media, through “friends asking friends,” the impact of this event goes beyond our community. More than 1,160 donors from all over the world donated $127,000, and that figure continues to rise. It’s important to rec- ognize and thank the top fundraisers Todd and Liz Ruderman and Joe and Aida Roisman. The Friendship Circle team of Nechama Harlig, Jessica Szmuler, Linda Woodson and Rabbi Yossi Harlig deserve thanks for organ- izing Walking 4 Friendship, and so do the many volunteers. Volunteers are key to the Friendship Circle’s success and they were cer- tainly key to this event. The program’s teen, young adult and parent volunteers along with volunteer groups from many area schools made it all possible. “It was such a powerful day, the community’s response validated the program and the efforts of the supporters and volunteers who so generously give of their time,” said Nechama Harlig. “The children with special needs and their families were overwhelmed with the outpouring of support. They simply beamed with pride.” The day was full of smiles and laughter. Children enjoyed carnival rides and crafts. Families enjoyed a performance by the Greater Miami Symphony, martial arts demonstration by Kia Kidz and presentation by the American Sign Language Club from Killian High School. Jack Ruderman played the piano and the children of the Friendship Circle’s Music, Guitar and Hip Hop programs also gave memorable performances. Mayor Cindy Lerner was there lending her support and the Miami-Dade Police Department helped keep everyone safe. It was great to see several local organiza- tions joining the Pinecrest Tribune as spon- sors of the event. Among the supporters were Wings Beachwear, Ruderman Family Foundation, Ralph Maya & Co., Bayfront Dental, Value Store It, Perry Ellis International, Danny Berry Diamond Backs Baseball Academy, KW Property Management, Evensky & Katz Wealth Management, Bank United, Palace Group, Fairholme Foundation, Clayton Feig Memorium and the Moshe Sholom Ben Yudel Dovid-Dr. Morry Fox Memorium. The money raised is vital to continuing this great program and donations can be made throughout the year. To learn more or donate, go to <[email protected]> or call 305-234-5654. Rabbi Yossi Harlig with top fundraisers Joe Roisman (left), Todd Ruderman and his son Jack. Friendship Circle Director Nechama Harlig received a proclamation from Mayor Cindy Lerner. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Teen volunteers are the lifeblood of the Friendship Circle programs. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– More than 1,000 people participated in this year’s Walking 4 Friendship. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Walking 4 Friendship raised awareness, money and spirits

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Page 1: Walking 4 Friendship raised awareness, money and spirits

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BY GRANT MILLERPublisher

My brother Michael and Irecently participated inWalking 4 Friendship, a 3kwalk and carnival that benefit-ed the Friendship Circle ofMiami.

This was the sixth year ofthe event and it’s one we wouldn’t miss. Morethan 1,000 children, teens, parents, grandpar-ents and supporters came together on theFriendship Circle campus to walk and raiseawareness and money for this program thatoffers recreation and services for children,teens and young adults with special needs.

Each year, the walk and carnival get biggerand more money is raised. Through email andsocial media, through “friends askingfriends,” the impact of this event goes beyondour community. More than 1,160 donors fromall over the world donated $127,000, and thatfigure continues to rise. It’s important to rec-ognize and thank the top fundraisers Todd andLiz Ruderman and Joe and Aida Roisman.

The Friendship Circle team of NechamaHarlig, Jessica Szmuler, Linda Woodson andRabbi Yossi Harlig deserve thanks for organ-izing Walking 4 Friendship, and so do themany volunteers. Volunteers are key to theFriendship Circle’s success and they were cer-tainly key to this event. The program’s teen,young adult and parent volunteers along withvolunteer groups from many area schools

made it all possible. “It was such a powerful day, the communi-

ty’s response validated the program and theefforts of the supporters and volunteers whoso generously give of their time,” saidNechama Harlig. “The children with specialneeds and their families were overwhelmedwith the outpouring of support. They simplybeamed with pride.”

The day was full of smiles and laughter.Children enjoyed carnival rides and crafts.

Families enjoyed a performance by theGreater Miami Symphony, martial artsdemonstration by Kia Kidz and presentationby the American Sign Language Club fromKillian High School. Jack Ruderman playedthe piano and the children of the FriendshipCircle’s Music, Guitar and Hip Hop programsalso gave memorable performances. MayorCindy Lerner was there lending her supportand the Miami-Dade Police Departmenthelped keep everyone safe.

It was great to see several local organiza-tions joining the Pinecrest Tribune as spon-sors of the event. Among the supporters wereWings Beachwear, Ruderman FamilyFoundation, Ralph Maya & Co., Bayfront

Dental, Value Store It, Perry EllisInternational, Danny Berry Diamond BacksBaseball Academy, KW PropertyManagement, Evensky & Katz WealthManagement, Bank United, Palace Group,Fairholme Foundation, Clayton FeigMemorium and the Moshe Sholom Ben YudelDovid-Dr. Morry Fox Memorium.

The money raised is vital to continuing thisgreat program and donations can be madethroughout the year. To learn more or donate,go to <[email protected]> or call305-234-5654.

Rabbi Yossi Harlig with top fundraisers Joe Roisman (left),Todd Ruderman and his son Jack.

Friendship Circle Director Nechama Harlig received aproclamation from Mayor Cindy Lerner.

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Teen volunteers are the lifeblood of the Friendship Circleprograms.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

More than 1,000 people participated in this year’s Walking4 Friendship.

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