giving back
youth groups
by Phan Apel
by Hannah Schapiro
Ramps tor Kids
FJA senior makes a difference for those using wheelchairs.
e is a precinct del-
egate for the Dem-
ocratic Party for
Bloomfield Township District
11. He interned for Congress-
man Gary Peters. He did po-
litical campaigning for candi-
dates Peters, Andy Levin and
President Obama. He had an
internship with X Site Valida-
tion Inc. in Farming, on Hills,
researching geography and its
connections to disability prev-
alence. He also has cerebral
palsy. But that doesn't stop
him.
Daniel Elkus, a senior at
the Frankel Jewish Academy
in West Bloomfield, saw a way
that he could make a differ-
ence — so he took action. Dan-
iel does not use a wheelchair,
but because he has cerebral
palsy, he sympathizes with
kids who do. Cerebral palsy
i§
4
gotif
Teens mix fun with good deeds.
Ann Arbor
J
ewish children learn early to do mitzvot. Now
a program in Ann Arbor hopes to keep teens
doing good deeds by blending them with fun ac-
tivities.
That's the idea behind Jewish Community Center of
Washtenaw County's Mitzvahs and Munchies program.
The most recent event was held Nov. 20 at Zap Zone, a
laser tag arena. Seventeen teens attended.
Jeremy Simon, a sophomore at Community High School
who attended, said, "It was free Zap Zone; I'd do it any
day!"
While there having dinner and fun, the teens also made
fleece scarves for the Ozone House in Ann Arbor, a youth
shelter.
"It was a good thing to do
because the Ozone House is
a good organization," Simon
said.
Deborah Huerta, Mitzvahs
Left: Jeremy Simon models a com-
pleted scarf.
a cli§ord#r§ that a=
f@ct a per§on'§ ability to move
awl W maintain blw# awl
po§tttr@,
Mitzvahs and Munchies
Below: Ann Arbor Jewish teens get
ready for laser tag battle.
At the documentary premiere: Daniel Elkus of Bloomfield Township with
Rola Jordan of South Lyon and her daughter, Karyn, 8, who was featured
Motivated by the idea of tik-
in Daniel's video and received a QuickRamp he donated.
kun olam, repairing the world,
and by a People to People
received a QuickRamp donated by Daniel.
Leadership Conference he at-
tended in 2008, Daniel was looking for a Before receiving the ramp, she was unable to
community service project that would be leave her house. This video shows how her
life has improved with access to her commu-
meaningful to him.
When he learned about QuickRamps for nity.
The documentary premiered Dec. 2 in
Kids, a project of United Cerebral Palsy, he
Ferndale,
and is now available online at
gravitated toward the cause. QuickRamps
are portable wheelchair ramps that can be www.youtube.com/watch?v ----fThmh9GenfE .
folded into suitcase form. They can be used The video was made possible with the help
outside of the house as well as inside. These of Leslynn Angel, president of the United
ramps are gateways to the community for Cerebral Palsy of Metropolitan Detroit, and
people in wheelchairs. Each ramp can cost Mike Ward of Doner Advertising in South-
from $200 to $500, depending on the length field.
Daniel is still very much involved, spread-
and angle of the ramp.
Daniel sent letters to family and friends, ing awareness and gaining more funding for
asking for donations to this worthy cause. this project that is making such a huge impact
He raised $3,500, enabling him to donate 15 in people's lives.
"I felt it was my duty to improve the lives
ramps for families in need in Metro Detroit.
"I wanted to make a lasting impact on of those who couldn't improve their lives
themselves and, by allowing them access to
people's lives," he said.
their community, I have
Daniel felt that by giving children access
brightened their lives im-
to the community, he would be enabling
mensely," he said. ;
them to have more opportunities in life.
Daniel also made a documentary, illustrat-
Jillian Apel, 15, is a sophomore
ing to people how a QuickRamp can change
at Frankel Jewish Academy In
a person's life. The video features Karyn Jor-
West Bloomfield.
dan of South Lyon, a girl in a wheelchair who
and Munchies coordinator, along with Leslie Bash, JCC ex-
ecutive director, came up with this series of events for teens
that would be meaningful and fun.
"I think these events are important because they allow
teens who are part of different youth groups or Jewish or-
ganizations to come together for a good cause and form
friendships and connections," Huerta said. "These events
also give teens who aren't involved in other Jewish activ-
ities a way to connect with the JCC, the broader Jewish
community and other Jewish teens."
Previously, there have been events for middle school stu-
dents, but not high school students.
To learn more about upcoming
events, contact Huerta at (734) 971-
0990 or deborahhuerta@jccfed.org .
Hannah Schapiro, 15, Is a sophomore at
Huron High School In Ann Arbor.
teen2teen December 16 .2010 B3
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