Honor Wantagh Cancer Fundraisers

Senate Resolution No. 983 BY: Senator RHOADS HONORING Wantagh High School's Warriors for a Cure upon the occasion of earning first place in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's 2025 Student Visionaries of the Year campaign WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that the quality and character of life in the communities across New York State are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of organizations and individuals committed to helping to improve the lives of others; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Wantagh High School's Warriors for a Cure upon the occasion of earning first place in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's 2025 Student Visionaries of the Year campaign; and WHEREAS, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's 2025 Student Visionaries of the Year campaign is an annual high school fundraising campaign across Long Island, New York; funds raised during the campaign go to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, a non-profit which funds research and provides education and support services for blood cancer patients; and WHEREAS, Wantagh High School's Warriors for a Cure team was made up of 27 students, and together they competed against 26 high school groups from across Long Island; and WHEREAS, Through the use of creative fundraising strategies such as raffles, letter-writing campaigns, social media posts, fundraiser booths, donation boxes, and bake sales, the Wantagh High School's Warriors for a Cure raised over $118,000 in only seven weeks, surpassing their previous record by $37,000; and WHEREAS, Members of Wantagh High School's Warriors for a Cure team sought to engage local organizations and businesses by presenting their fundraising mission to the Wantagh Chamber of Commerce and Wantagh Kiwanis Club; and WHEREAS, By participating in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's 2025 Student Visionaries of the Year campaign, students on Wantagh High School's Warriors for a Cure team managed to gain invaluable experience in public speaking, fundraising, strategizing, and teamwork; and WHEREAS, The skills demonstrated and learned by the students on Wantagh High School's Warriors for a Cure team will undoubtedly be essential in their academic career and enhance their success in future professional endeavors; and WHEREAS, The impressive achievements of the fundraiser coordinated by Wantagh High School's Warriors for a Cure team is possible due to the hard work and dedication of its student members in addition to local Wantagh community members and businesses, who rallied together to bring these donations to fruition; and WHEREAS, The money raised for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society will help fund leading-edge research for blood cancers, including leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and other rare types of blood cancers; since 2017, the organization has helped advance around 70% of blood cancer treatment options approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; and WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body that those who enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to honor the members of Wantagh High School's Warriors for a Cure: Michael Avitabile, James DiCerbo, Matt Riley, Gabriel Avitabile, Grace Bifone, Michael Colaianni, Angela DiCerbo, Danny Donahue, Frankie Falco, PJ Falco, Joseph Grasso, Joshua Henriques, Kevin Hinz, Caden LiCausi, Colin McCann, Maximus Naglieri, Hailey O'Brien, Gianna Paccione, Aditya Pasricha, Luca Pecora, Ella Perfetti, Jack Powers, Allie Reisert, Faith Stallone, Gianluca Stornello, Luka Sumberac, and Christopher Yorke upon the occasion of earning first place in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's