Tragic Berry
Orphans To Be
Aided By Fund

Hannah Posen

Jewish News Intern

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n their way back to Houston
from a July 4 weekend fam-
ily vacation in Colorado, a
Jewish family was involved in a fatal
accident. The crash instantly killed par-
ents Joshua and Robin Berry and left
sons Peter, 9, and Aaron, 8, paralyzed
from the waist down and daughter
Willa, 6, with a broken wrist and ankle.
A woman in the other car also died.
As the news spread throughout
Houston's Jewish community, family
and friends stayed by the kids' side
as the sons went through numerous
surgeries and began to recover. They
have been moved to Shriners Hospital
in Oak Park, Ill., for rehabilitation.
To help offset medical costs,
Houston's Jewish community set up
the Joshua and Robin Berry Children's
Trust. And grassroots efforts in Houston
have raised more than $30,000 through
bake sales and lemonade stands.
MobileCause, a provider for mobile
communication and fundraising ser-
vices, has partnered with the Jewish
Federation of Greater Houston to raise
donations for the Houston Jewish
Community Foundation Berry Family
Fund for Orphans. This fund will ben-
efit individual children in the Houston
area with urgent financial needs who
are orphans because they lost their
parents from catastrophic incidents.
Preference will be given to the three
Berry children. To make a $10 dona-
tion, text the word "Berry" to 85944 via
mobile phone.
"The tragedy is unprecedented in
our synagogue, in our community',' said
Rabbi Brian Strauss of Congregation
Beth Yushurun, the Conservative syna-
gogue where the Berrys were members.
"In Houston, the Berrys were beloved!'
Robin had worked as family life
coordinator at Beth Yushurun, and
Josh had participated in men's club
programs. The Berry children attend
Jewish day schools.
For updates on the boys' recovery
or to donate, visit the Facebook page
"Joshua and Robin Berry Children's
Trust." Also, see the "Show Your Hearts"
website, www.showyourhearts.org,
which provides details on how to
donate. The campaign is facilitating
all fundraising efforts and has gotten
the attention of some major celebrities,
including Justin Bierber, Britney Spears
and Lady Gaga. I I

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JTA contributed to this story.

August 4 2011

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