Checks Presented to Families and Schools

Shirley Davis (second from left) receives a check from (left to right) Dr. Mort Sherman, Mayor Bernie Platt, and President Michael Moynihan and Darry Oliver of the United Way.

Janice and Richard Mann receive a check on behalf of their daughter, Kristin.

CHERRY HILL, NJ - Cherry Hill & Voorhees Care recently issued its first relief checks to those who have been affected by Hurricane Katrina. Checks were presented to individuals and organizations, with additional contributions planned for the area.

Teacher Kristin Mann of Gretna, LA will receive $1,000 to help re-establish her school. Shirley Davis was given $1,000 to purchase trailers for temporary shelters at her brother-in-law’s church in the Gentilly area of New Orleans. Additional donations of $5,000 each were sent to the Lamar County School District (MS) and to the Tangipahoa Parish School District (LA), for a total of $12,000 distributed to date.

Cherry Hill & Voorhees Care launched its collaboration with “Follow the Sun,” a 6.5 mile walk/run held in September. This kickoff event was a tremendous success, with 1,200 participants and donors raising over $30,000. In the following weeks an additional $11,000 was contributed, making a total of $41,000 raised to date for hurricane relief.

Launched in September by Cherry Hill Mayor Bernie Platt, Voorhees Mayor Michael Mignogna, and Cherry Hill Superintendent Dr. Mort Sherman, the Cherry Hill & Voorhees Care regional coalition grew to include municipal organizations, school communities, local businesses, civic groups and religious organizations.

Financial contributions are being accepted by mail to support the Cherry Hill & Voorhees Care Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. Checks should be made payable to Cherry Hill & Voorhees Care-United Way of Camden County and mailed to the Mayor’s Office-Room 105, Cherry Hill Municipal Building, 820 Mercer Street, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002. For more information, call 429-7757 (Voorhees) or 488-7878 (Cherry Hill).

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DRAMATIC PRESENTATION:

An American Tragedy
This event raised more than $1,000!

Director Bob Nation (far right) and Mayor Bernie Platt (center-right, top) join Lab Theater students from Cherry Hill High School West, congratulating them on excellent performances for a good cause

This presentation recreated the days following Hurricane Katrina to honor those who suffered in her wake.

Walkers depart East High School on Kresson Road

Left to right: Dr. Sherman, Mayor Platt and Council President Fleisher announce their collaboration and the Sept. 18 Community Walk

CHERRY HILL, NJ - Mayors Bernie Platt (Cherry Hill) and Michael Mignogna (Voorhees) and Cherry Hill School Superintendent Dr. Mort Sherman announced this morning that the Cherry Hill and Voorhees communities' Hurricane Katrina relief efforts will be an unprecedented collaboration between countless local groups, named "Cherry Hill and Voorhees Care." A community walk/run, "Follow the Sun," is planned for Sunday, September 18 at 11 a.m. from East High School to West High School in Cherry Hill. Joined by eight Cherry Hill high school student leaders from both schools, as well as Township Council members, the mayors and Dr. Sherman shared their vision for efficient, targeted aid for communities near the Gulf Coast.

"We want to focus our efforts to maximize the benefit to affected families," said Mayor Platt. "One community we're looking to partner with is Belle Chasse, Louisiana, which sent a team to the recent World Series of softball in Cherry Hill. Belle Chasse's team members are now evacuees living in six different states, but they are safe."

CHYAA President Rob Connor, the World Series coordinator, was also on hand. He and Township Council President David Fleisher will co-chair the Community Walk.

The collaboration of "Cherry Hill and Voorhees Care" was designed by Dr. Sherman and Mayor Platt on September 1, 2005. Countless community leaders, clergy, faith-oriented, law enforcement, and civic groups joined the effort in a matter of days. Please return to this site for updates and to contact "Cherry Hill and Voorhees Care" to donate or volunteer.

CHERRY HILL, NJ - Vanessa Torres and Roselyn Colon could have spent Sunday watching their husbands watch the Eagles. Instead, they took advantage of a beautiful sunny day to take a walk -- a 6 1/2-mile walk, to be exact. The sisters-in-law were among the estimated 1,200 people who participated in Sunday's Follow the Sun Walk/Run to raise money for victims of Hurricane Katrina. The event raised an estimated $30,000.

"Everybody (along the Gulf Coast) lost everything," said Colon, 26, of Collingswood. "If I can contribute, it's the least I can do to help."

Participants walked from Cherry Hill High School East on Kresson Road to Cherry Hill High School West on Chapel Avenue. A coalition of officials in Cherry Hill and Voorhees organized the event.

By participating, Torres said she felt she was able to help some of the displaced residents she has seen on the news.

"It's been overwhelming," said Torres, 28, of Philadelphia. "It reminded me of 9/11."

Participating families were asked to contribute $25. Food donations also were collected for the Food Bank of South Jersey.

T.J. Ciocca and Kathy Sexauer, both of Cherry Hill ran the first part of the course. As they took a break at James Johnson Elementary School, they contemplated walking the rest.

"I really wanted to go down (to the gulf states), but it's not something everybody can do," Sexauer said.

"Our lives are so beautiful right here, right now," Ciocca said. "It's hard to contemplate how traumatic" the hurricane was for those who live along the Gulf Coast, she added.

Jason Warren, 12, walked with his father, Scott, and 10-year-old brother Josh. Jason recently raised $57,000 through a bowling event he staged to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation, but he said he also wanted to do something for the hurricane victims.

Scott Warren said he's proud of both of his sons' -- and his neighbors' -- concern for others.

"It should never stop," he said of the willingness to give. "It's good to be involved, and Cherry Hill always is."

That involvement will continue, said Mayor Bernie Platt, who noted other events to raise money for Hurricane Katrina victims will be planned throughout this year.

"The most beautiful thing of today was that, less than a week ago, this was a dream of something we could do," Platt said. "That dream came true today."