Grissom’s Angels, a leadership team of seventh- and eighth-grade students from J.H.S. 226, participated in Walk Now For Autism. (courtesy of Claudia Bethea)Students, teachers and parents of South Ozone Park’s J.H.S. 226, the Virgil I. Grisson School, joined together Sunday in Walk Now For Autism at the South Street Seaport.
Calling themselves “Grissom’s Angels,” students at the middle school decided to do more than just collect money to support autism research.
This was the first year that the school raised money for autism research; last year they raised funds for cancer research.
After looking over many books on special conditions, the students decided autism was a good cause since it personally touched many staff members at the school
After choosing the condition, students thought up ways they could help. They participated in the Penny Harvest, which led them to doing the walk for autism, and found sponsors in their peers, teachers, families and friends.
The students took action in other ways, including volunteering their time to students with special needs who learn in a new wing of the school created specifically for students with disabilities. Claudia Bethea, the school’s parent coordinator, said that helping the special needs children with exercises like reading has made them “see the world differently.”Helping these children has also given the students an opportunity to see that everyone is born different.
Bethea described the three-mile walk, which stretched around the seaport, as “massive.” Six students, eleven staff members, and five parents were part of the 3,000 people that showed up to walk.
Two buses from the James Dimino Express company were donated to pick the students up in front of the school.
The students met their goal of raising $5,000 for autism research and were also met with support from spectators on the sidewalks and their parents.
Bethea said that the students exceeded her expectations with their enthusiasm and donations of both money and time.
