September 25th, 2009
When Denise Resnick’s daughter was invited to more than 100 Bar and Bat Mitzvahs the year of her own Bat Mitzvah, Denise had some serious shopping to do. She did not want her daughter to have to wear the same thing over and over, but who wants to buy a different dress for each affair? The dilemma ultimately led to her and friend Jacki Stern creating Jade Formals.
Jade Formals is a consignment boutique based in Roslyn, NY, that sells formalwear for women, teens and children. They have more than 1,000 dresses in stock, sizes 2-22 for adults and 2-16 for girls.
The clothing that comes in (sometimes with the tag still on) sells for a fraction of the original price. Gowns, dresses, suits and temple clothes by Badgley Mischka, Escada, Dolce & Gabbana, Reem Acra and others sell for $20 to $800. The seller receives 40% of what the item sells for. If the clothing does not sell, Jade will donate the items to a charity, with the owners’ permission. “If at any time the owner would like to claim her item back, she is free to do so,” Denise explains.
Denise and Jacki work out of their homes and meet with clients by appointment only. They tend to meet with a client for about 30 minutes to assess what she is looking for. If they do not have the right item in stock, but see something come in soon after that they feel the client would like, they will follow up with the client to let her know of the new arrival. Jade does not offer alteration services, but will make recommendations.
To learn more about buying or selling, or to set up an appointment with the Jade team, call 516-707-2636 or 516-641-1083.
September 25th, 2009
Cake Toppers
The cake toppers made by Lily Tsai of Lily’s Design are – in a word – fun. With your photo, she can create a 3-D cake topper that blows you away. Whether you want “cutesy” or more realistic, she can do it all. Each cake topper is about 6 to 6.5 inches high and is completely custom-made. Prices vary, depending on what you’re looking for. She says to allow at least four weeks for your order.
If you choose to have a unique cake topper made for your child’s Mitzvah, it will certainly be a great source of discussion during the event. Even better, you can keep it forever to remember the affair.
September 25th, 2009
Hebrew Help Is Here
For many kids, Hebrew classes are just one of the many activities they have scheduled throughout the week. To help reinforce the lessons taught in Hebrew school, sometimes one-on-one attention is just what is needed. Meet Wendy Marx of Jericho, NY. Wendy is a Hebrew tutor for our over-scheduled Mitzvah Kids who might need a little extra help in preparing for their Bar/Bat Mitzvah. She also specialize in students with special needs.
Additionally, Wendy refers to herself as a “mentor,” often acting as a go-between, helping parents communicate with their clergy. If there are questions that parents are shy to ask, Wendy can often answer the question, thanks to her experience. Or she will step in and ask the clergy on their behalf. If your child could use some extra help, contact Wendy directly at xmarxts@aol.com or 516-933-7448.
September 25th, 2009
Spell It Out
The name of the Mitzvah game is personalization and that’s what AlphabetPIX is all about. This interactive Website lets you design your own artwork by entering the word you want to spell and then choosing the architecture-inspired letters (cool sepia photographs) to spell your word. You can design a framed creation with up to 13 letters, and you can choose from an array of frames and matting styles. Prices start at $19.99. We think this makes a great gift! Spell a first name, surname or an inspirational word like “dream.” Added bonus: the Website is very easy to use!
REWARD: Order an AlphabetPix work of art and receive $10 off. Use the promo code FREE10 during checkout.
September 24th, 2009
Bar Mitzvah Bouncer, Inc. = Peace Of Mind!
The Bar Mitzvah Bouncer is a professional chaperone service. They want you to enjoy the party and not worry about the kids. They supervise the children with care and fun.
If a bus ride is needed to the party, the Bar Mitzvah Bouncer rides on the bus with the kids.
They provide a safe environment; the dynamic, trained staff watch the children to ensure a fun time for all. They are committed to making sure all enjoy the party and are included in the activities.
September 19th, 2009
Even though it’s cold outside, some of us are thinking about summer – summer camp, anyway. If you’re starting to look for a summer camp for your child, and are feeling a little overwhelmed by the process, do not worry. There is good news; there is help.
Camp Connection is a free service that helps match kids with sleepaway camps that fit their needs and personalities. Referring to themselves as “Your Sleepaway Camp Matchmaker,” Camp Connection specializes in learning about your kids and then making suggestions on what sleepaway camps they would most enjoy. The team behind Camp Connection has been offering this help for more than 20 years. And did we mention that it’s FREE?
In addition to acting as Sleepaway Camp Matchmaker, the Camp Connection staff runs an affiliate program called Teen Connection. Owners Norm and Laurel Barrie say, “Our Mitzvah is having the skills and expertise to make appropriate recommendations to families.” This service helps match teens with summer programs including travel, community service, language immersion and outdoor adventure. Just what we love – summer Mitzvah Projects.
September 16th, 2009
Sydney Epstein of Woodmere, NY, feels the importance of planning a Mitzvah Project is to show that you are mature and ready for life’s responsibilities. We think her very successful and well thought-out Mitzvah Project supporting Pancakes for Parkinson’s showed a lot of maturity, and we appreciate her letting us share her story with you.
Sydney chose to organize a Pancakes for Parkinson’s event this past October to support the Michael J. Fox Foundation, which works to find a cure for Parkinson’s Disease. Sydney chose this organization because her grandfather suffers from PD. The Pancakes for Parkinson’s event is designed to be a one-day event where people buy tickets to a pancake breakfast with all proceeds benefiting the Michael J. Fox Foundation. Sydney let people know about the event by including a note along with her Bat Mitzvah invitation, which was held November 1st. She also posted flyers in local stores and sent emails.
Sydney held the event at a local firehouse, which she said was a well-known and central location. She reached out to local stores and asked them to donate supplies such as pancake mix, syrup, fruit and paper products. Sydney also took the initiative and asked local stores to donate raffle prizes, and she said on the day of the event, they were able to conduct a very successful raffle which also helped to raise money for Pancakes for Parkinson’s.
The event was successful in raising money – more than $10,000 – but more importantly, it helped Sydney realize what happens when a community pulls together. “Overall it was a great success for me personally and it was a great community event,” she says. “People showed our family a lot of support. I was very proud of the day.”
A group shot from Sydney’s event
September 16th, 2009
Allison Grey of Woodbury, NY, created a Mitzvah Project that benefited the Ronald McDonald House. However, our guess is that her Project benefited a lot more than the recipients; we are sure all of those who pitched in and helped Allison were blessed as well. Here’s Allison’s story, in her own words:
My Mitzvah Project was decorating flip flops to donate to the Ronald McDonald House to use as a part of their welcome gifts. They give the welcome gifts to the families that stay at the Ronald McDonald House when their children are in the hospital. I chose to do this Project because I love to do arts and crafts. I chose to send them to the Ronald McDonald House because I like to help children’s charities. I called my project Flip Flops for Friends.
I decorated the flip flops by tying colorful strips of felt on to the flip flops. After buying sheets of a variety of festive felt, we cut them into strips. I was fortunate to have a lot of my friends help me decorate the flip flops. All of my friends helped me reach my goal of decorating 200 pairs. When we finished tying the felt we packaged each pair in cellophane bags and a ribbon. We put on labels that said Flip Flops for Friends that had a picture of flip flops on them. I worked on my Project for 11 months.
I received help from my friends from Hebrew School, pre-school, school, camp, and also family members. Last year, for three days during indoor recess, 40 people in my grade helped decorate flip flops. We made over 60 pairs. It was a great project to do at recess because it was fun, and we were helping people at the same time. It is very special that I have had friends from all over the country help me with my Project.
On November 20, 2008, I went to the Ronald McDonald House to deliver my flip flops. When I arrived the workers were so happy about my Project and were very excited to give them to the families. They told me that they would put the flip flops in the families’ holiday gift bags. I received a tour of the Ronald McDonald House. It made me feel very good to know that I was helping these people.
September 16th, 2009
Rachel Abramowitz of Plymouth Meeting, Pa., organized a bike ride called Kids Ride 4 Cancer for her Mitzvah Project. Children and adults of all ages were encouraged to ride 2, 5 or 10 miles. There was a registration fee and riders were welcome to collect donations in support of their ride.
Rachel’s Bat Mitzvah was in June of 2007, and the first Ride was held in May of 2007. The Ride was so successful, Rachel continued her Mitzvah by holding Kids Ride 4 Cancer in 2008 as well. Here is a description of Rachel’s Project in her own words:
For my Mitzvah Project, I created a bike ride called Kids Ride 4 Cancer. All of the money that was collected went to help fight cancer through the American Cancer Society’s Bike-A-thon (which is held annually in Philadelphia). For the past several years, my parents and I have participated in the ACS Bike-A-Thon. We love to be a part of such a great experience because it’s fun, great exercise and you feel good about helping people.
I believe that people of all ages should be able to ride, even if they are not experienced riders. That is why I created Kids Ride 4 Cancer. This is an example of “gemilut chasadim,” performing an act of loving kindness. I was able to do this by raising money for cancer, or helping the sick.
Kids Ride 4 Cancer was a huge success!
I put a lot of my time and energy into making this ride great. My parents and I went to local supermarkets and other convenience stores and got a lot of food and drink donations. We printed up flyers and distributed them to my friends and family. We posted signs marking the course, and enlisted great volunteers to help at the rest stops. My ride was a huge success. We had an attendance of about 120 bikers, walkers, rollerbladers, and even a dog! In the end, we raised about $8,000! All of our efforts definitely made a difference!
September 16th, 2009
Today’s Mitzvah Project Profile is about a cause close to the hearts of many, including big-name celebrities like George Clooney and NBC TODAY’s Ann Curry. The cause is Darfur.
Shelby Evans from Plano, Texas, decided to take some of her Bat Mitzvah gifts and buy stoves for homes in Darfur through the organization Save Darfur. Here are some of Shelby’s thoughts on what a Mitzvah Project should be and why she chose to help people in Darfur:
In my mind there is no such thing as a Mitzvah Project, you should already have interests in helping people. Mitzvah Projects are just a way to spread the word of what you’re doing and hopefully make others more keen to be involved.
Darfur is a place in Africa where a great deal of genocide and mass murder takes place. Millions have been killed, and the government is causing it. I’d like to see good wishes sent to places like Darfur and the unfortunate who need help. I care about it because I believe everyone should have the option to at least help themselves, and they don’t even have that. I want people to take action and spread the knowledge, even possibly making it more of a grateful nation.
Shelby’s mom even kept a blog about her daughter’s Bat Mitzvah and all Shelby’s done for Darfur. Shelby tells MM that she recently started a club called, “World Epiphany” which helps make people aware of situations like that in Darfur.
Shelby is another example of one Kid making a difference! Thanks for sharing your Mitzvah Project with us, Shelby.
