Senate Resolution No. 983
BY: Senator RHOADS
HONORING Wantagh High School's Warriors for a Cure
upon the occasion of earning first place in the
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's 2025 Student
Visionaries of the Year campaign
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that the quality
and character of life in the communities across New York State are
reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of organizations and
individuals committed to helping to improve the lives of others; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Wantagh High School's Warriors for a Cure upon the occasion of earning
first place in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's 2025 Student
Visionaries of the Year campaign; and
WHEREAS, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's 2025 Student Visionaries
of the Year campaign is an annual high school fundraising campaign
across Long Island, New York; funds raised during the campaign go to
support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, a non-profit which funds
research and provides education and support services for blood cancer
patients; and
WHEREAS, Wantagh High School's Warriors for a Cure team was made up
of 27 students, and together they competed against 26 high school groups
from across Long Island; and
WHEREAS, Through the use of creative fundraising strategies such as
raffles, letter-writing campaigns, social media posts, fundraiser
booths, donation boxes, and bake sales, the Wantagh High School's
Warriors for a Cure raised over $118,000 in only seven weeks, surpassing
their previous record by $37,000; and
WHEREAS, Members of Wantagh High School's Warriors for a Cure team
sought to engage local organizations and businesses by presenting their
fundraising mission to the Wantagh Chamber of Commerce and Wantagh
Kiwanis Club; and
WHEREAS, By participating in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's 2025
Student Visionaries of the Year campaign, students on Wantagh High
School's Warriors for a Cure team managed to gain invaluable experience
in public speaking, fundraising, strategizing, and teamwork; and
WHEREAS, The skills demonstrated and learned by the students on
Wantagh High School's Warriors for a Cure team will undoubtedly be
essential in their academic career and enhance their success in future
professional endeavors; and
WHEREAS, The impressive achievements of the fundraiser coordinated
by Wantagh High School's Warriors for a Cure team is possible due to the
hard work and dedication of its student members in addition to local
Wantagh community members and businesses, who rallied together to bring
these donations to fruition; and
WHEREAS, The money raised for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society will
help fund leading-edge research for blood cancers, including leukemia,
lymphoma, myeloma, and other rare types of blood cancers; since 2017,
the organization has helped advance around 70% of blood cancer treatment
options approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; and
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a
long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned the
recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor the members of Wantagh High School's Warriors for a Cure: Michael
Avitabile, James DiCerbo, Matt Riley, Gabriel Avitabile, Grace Bifone,
Michael Colaianni, Angela DiCerbo, Danny Donahue, Frankie Falco, PJ
Falco, Joseph Grasso, Joshua Henriques, Kevin Hinz, Caden LiCausi, Colin
McCann, Maximus Naglieri, Hailey O'Brien, Gianna Paccione, Aditya
Pasricha, Luca Pecora, Ella Perfetti, Jack Powers, Allie Reisert, Faith
Stallone, Gianluca Stornello, Luka Sumberac, and Christopher Yorke upon
the occasion of earning first place in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's
2025 Student Visionaries of the Year campaign; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the members of Wantagh High School's Warriors for a Cure.
