Article by Phoenix writer Isabel Connolly ’23:
Retired Nassau County Police Officer Timothy Jaccard is an inspirational person to everyone who meets him, but to Kellenberg Memorial junior Angelina Scalice, however, he is more: he is Uncle Tim, a godfather and close family friend.
Junior Angelina Scalice recently gave a speech at a fundraising event which raised over $54,000 for the Ambulance Medical Technician Children of Hope Foundation, also known as the Baby Safe Haven Foundation.
This total sum, twice the amount the charity had hoped to raise, will help expectant mothers who may be in crisis situations who don’t know what to do.
Founded by Officer Jaccard, AMT Children of Hope Foundation offers such mothers a safe and legal way to place their child for adoption. Among other things, the organization helps to place the children in homes with families who can take care of them.
Incredibly, Angelina became involved in this organization because she was placed with her family through Children of Hope.
According to the website, “The Foundation was started because there was a need to pay for a burial of an unwanted baby. That need has evolved. Prevention is our Vision. We work hard with many different agencies and medias to educate the public that throwing away an unwanted infant is not an option.”
Because of the effect this organization has had on her, Angelina has been giving back by volunteering at any charity fundraisers it holds and will continue to assist in any way.
For example, every year the foundation would take part in the annual July 4th parade in Wantagh where Angelina looked forward to helping design the float and tossing candy to parade-goers during the parade.
Angelina said, “And more than anything, I want to be an astrophysicist. I want to study the stars, the planets, everything beyond us— I want to know how we got to where we are today. But I already know how I got here today. This foundation has given me the life I know.”
Angelina has been truly honored to be a part of such a wonderful organization which is doing such important work. Any student that would like to help can donate and find more information on its website http://www.amtchildrenofhope.com/index.php.
Kellenberg offers its students numerous opportunities to perform acts of service throughout the school and community, whether it be through SALT or CROSS. Its students are instilled with a strong inclination to serve others. Some students even take this calling outside the school building in their own projects and causes. Angelina Scalice is one of many extraordinary students at KMHS who take the call to serve beyond the limits of expectation.