Walk4Friends Lifts Spirits, Awareness in Central NJ

Ask anyone involved with The Friendship Circle to describe the program, and you‟ll hear the same words of praise repeated by its volunteers, donors, families and staff – important, meaningful, rewarding.

The Friendship Circle in Western Monmouth County was founded in 2001 with the primary goal of providing quality programs to children with special needs. But the effects of The Friendship Circle trickle way beyond the programming element. The organization embraces and unites the community in a profound way that touches many lives.

In the true spirit of community, nearly 1,000 people of all ages gathered under sunny skies for the third annual Walk4Friends on May 22 at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft. The goal of the walk was to raise funding for the program, but, again, it accomplished much more than its primary mission.

“So many parents came over to us during the event to thank us for dedicating a special day to their children,” said Chanale Wolosow, director of The Friendship Circle. “Imagine 1,000 people coming to show their support for your child and your family. The parents were beaming with pride, and the children were the spotlight of the event.”

Walk4Friends kicked off with an opening ceremony and pep rally, including a group warm-up led by a New York Fitness Club instructor. The one-mile walk through campus was led by the Freehold Township High School marching band. After the walk, guests enjoyed rides, games, a petting zoo, and a featured trampoline performance by Flippenout Productions. Among the guests were Manalapan Mayor Andrew Lucas, Marlboro Mayor Jonathan Hornik, Holmdel Mayor Patrick Impreveduto, and Deputy Mayor of Colts Neck Jarret Engle.

“Walk4Friends is an annual celebration that everyone in the community looks forward to. Not only does The Friendship Circle provide love and friendship to hundreds of children with special needs, and much-needed respite to their parents, but it also raises awareness in the community about the needs of special children,” said Wolosow.

After the walkathon, The Friendship Circle is just $35,000 short of its $150,000 goal, so donations are needed and greatly appreciated, she added.

The Friendship Circle operates through the dedicated efforts of more than 100 high school volunteers, who help run recreational activities and conduct weekly visits to the homes of children with special needs, under the direction of program coordinators Menucha Bresinger and Yael Konskers, both of Manalapan.

“The loving kindness of the volunteers exemplifies the Hebrew expression ‘cast your bread on the water because it will come back to you in the future’,“

Wolosow said. ”If you help someone now, you will be rewarded later.”

Many of the volunteers say that the rewards are instantaneous. Rachel Shafrir, a 16-year-old Marlboro resident, started as a volunteer as a bat mitzvah hesed project, and now is paired with a 13-year old boy with severe autism named Daniel. “I absolutely fell in love with The Friendship Circle from the first event I went to. I spend a lot of my free time volunteering. My life basically revolves around The Friendship Circle,” Rachel said. “Daniel is the most incredible child I‟ve ever met, and he‟s a really big inspiration to me. Even though he doesn‟t have good verbal skills, we have bonded in so many ways.” The program has helped shape Rachel‟s future career goals. She hopes one day to study applied behavioral analysis and to work with disabled children.

Carly Berber, a 16-year-old from Marlboro, is also drawn to The Friendship Circle for its rewarding experiences. “I just really wanted to get involved in something important. It is amazing how happy these kids are just to be with us,” Carly said.

During one of her earliest Friendship Circle experiences, Carly recalls helping a frustrated boy express his feelings through a simple song they made up together. The song touched the boy and he began to fervently sign something to Carly with his hands. It wasn‟t until his parents arrived that Carly discovered that he was signing the words „thank you‟ over and over. “For me to take a few hours out of my day to make such a difference in their lives makes me really happy,” she said.

The meaningful exchanges between Friendship Circle children and their mentors often trigger tears of gratitude by Friendship Circle parents.

“The Friendship Circle is like a gift to us. Without this remarkable program, my son would be sitting on the computer day and night, with very little interaction with others,” said Randi Goldberg of Morganville, who helps organize Walk4Friends. Her 12-year-old autistic son, Joshua, participates in the program, and her 15-year-old son, Robert, is a Friendship Circle volunteer. “It gives us so much comfort to know that our children are in a safe, loving environment with volunteers who truly care about them.”

The Friendship Circle wouldn‟t exist without the hard work of its director, said parent Emily Murray of Manalapan. “Chanale is the most incredibly genuine person, who runs this program with such an open heart,” said Murray, who has twin 14-year-old boys with CHARGE Syndrome. “I am in awe of the dedicated volunteers who give hours upon hours to our kids. Their efforts give our children the opportunity to be an important part of the community.”

For more information about The Friendship Circle, or to make a pledge of support, please visit www.friendsnj.com or call 732-536-2319.