"Shoot for the
Stars" Project
Joseph M. Shook, IV, his twin sister, Lauren, and one of
their best friends, Michael Joseph DeFeo have been friends
for many years. They met at Lacordaire Academy, Upper Montclair
and enjoyed a few years of taking tennis lessons together. Joseph, Lauren, and
Michael eventually went to different schools but, always remained close as did
their parents.
Their community service responsibility began a few years
ago. The children collected, assembled, and delivered thanksgiving baskets to
the less fortunate and needy families at St. Lucy’s Parish in Newark.
They also work at the D.A.R.E. Program held annually at Community Park in Cedar Grove which
promotes drug awareness to our youth.
Last summer,
Joseph and Lauren helped to raise $1,500. in a weekend
for one of their soccer coaches who was diagnosed with diabetes. This is just
another example of their desire and personal responsibility to help others.
Julie Alongi is the founder and Executive Director of Rosepetals
which is an organization that assists terminally ill
children and their families. Ms. Alongi was 22 years of age when she faced two
episodes of stage four cancer. Shortly thereafter, her three year old son,
Justin, was afflicted with leukemia. Back then, she thought that she would
never endure her misfortune however; some very wonderful people helped her
along the way. She felt an obligation to assist other people who are in
need. Therefore, the past 25 years of
her life have been dedicated to assisting terminally ill children and their
families. It was her own journey of survival that inspired Rosepetals.
In July of 2006,
Joseph read a letter from Julie Alongi, that the Cedar Grove Chapter of UNICO
National distributed to its members a letter which was sent to his father,
which was requesting donations for Rosepetals. Joseph became quite interested in this
organization because it dealt with terminally ill children and their families.
He immediately wanted to establish a fund raiser for this important cause. The
Shook and the DeFeo families met for dinner in order
for Joseph to propose his idea about his desire to raise $20,000.00 for this
important organization. Michael was very
inspired to be a part of this endeavor because his father, Dr. Michael DeFeo, is
the Director of the Neonatal Unit and Associate
Chief of Pediatrics of N.Y.U. Downtown Hospital. That evening, they drew up a pyramid
graph of where the funds could be collected, began designing labels for coin
cans to be distributed to local businesses, and planned on towns and businesses
to solicit. Their motivation was solely out of their affection for community
service and the desire to help these children.
Joseph, Lauren, and Michael tried contacting Julie
Alongi, the founder of Rosepetals, in order to
discuss their plans for raising money for Rosepetals.
They had to wait an entire weekend, which felt like an eternity to the children,
before hearing from her and gaining her approval. It began with Julie providing letters in
order for them to solicit money for Rosepetals. With
their own money, Joseph, Lauren, and Michael purchased 150 cans to distribute
to local businesses. They spent hours designing a label and caption for the
cans and spent days applying them. Mr.
Shook and Dr. DeFeo were able to take Joseph, Lauren
and Michael around to distribute these cans to local merchants. These cans have
saturated the West Essex, Morris, and Passaic County areas. The children have also
gone door to door in their communities and have
spent over 20 days soliciting funds in front of stores and businesses. On Labor
Day, even though they were invited to parties, they began collecting funds at 8:00 A.M.
in front of a
local bakery and finished their day at 6
P.M. This day showed a profit of over
$1,400.00.
To date, the children have exceeded
$23,000.00. They have future plans of starting a program in local schools where
7th and 8th grade classes collect funds for Rosepetals.
The children are willing to oversee this
project and Chair this important position as youth founders.
Joseph, Lauren, and Michael have been humbled by this
experience. In the few short months that Michael DeFeo
has spent at the Delbarton School, Morristown he learned from the Benedictine
tradition that the joys in life don’t always
come from receiving but, the true gift is in the giving. Michael and his family believe in this motto.
On the other hand, the Shook family motto by which this project has been named
is "Shoot for the stars". Joseph and Lauren’s mother,
Carolyn Shook, first heard this at her college graduation and always reminds
her children of her motto, If you shoot for the treetops you may miss and hit
a branch but, if you shoot for the stars you may be lucky enough to land in a
cloud. These young adults are our future community leaders.
On October 17th, they were honored with "The
Award of Merit" in recognition for outstanding community service and compassion
in helping terminally ill children and their families by UNICO National
District IV. District IV is comprised of
delegates from nine towns: Bloomfield, Belleville, Cedar Grove,North Haledon, Passaic-Clifton,
Passaic Valley, Little Falls, Pequannock, Sparta and Wayne.
On Wednesday, October 25th, Julie Alongi,
Founder and Executive Director of Rosepetals presented them with
a "Certificate of Appreciation" from the Rosepetals
Foundation at a Cedar Grove UNICO Chapter dinner.
On Friday, October 27th, St. Barnabas Hospital
and Medical Center, Livingston
hosted these young adults to meet some of the terminally ill children that
their hard work has helped. They have made 30 Halloween baskets to bring to
each child. In addition, Joseph M. Shook, IV will be presenting a check to the
Rosepetals Foundation in the amount of $23,805.00
which represents total donations received to date.
On November 7th, Mayor Edward Abbot and the
Essex Fells Town Council will present these young adults with a "Proclamation"
for their community service on behalf of the of Essex Fells.
On November 13th, Mayor Steven Moscone of Montville will honor this team
with a "Proclamation" for their dedication to Rosepetals.
Joseph Shook, IV is in 8th grade and is an
honor student at Oratory Preparatory School in Summit. Lauren Shook is an 8th grade
honor student at Villa Walsh Academy, Morristown.
Both children play traveling soccer for the Montclair United Soccer Club. Joseph takes piano
and voice lessons and has
been chosen to participate in this year’s Chess Consortium for Oratory Prep.
Lauren is active in J.S.A. which is the Junior States of America
program at Villa Walsh. She enjoys writing and traveling.
Michael Joseph DeFeo
is a freshman honor student at the Delbarton School in Morristown, a U.S.T.A.
ranked tennis player, an altar server and a member of the Church’s bell choir
at St. Pius X Church in Montville, he is a volunteer at the Montville Public
Library, and is on the Speech and Debate Team for Delbarton.
