Montclair Kimberley Academy Help Fight Hunger

Montclair Kimberley Academy juniors Joe Amato and Ben Respas worked hard with the Partners For Health Foundation to raise money for the Salvation Army.

Montclair Kimberley Academy juniors raise $4,400 for Salvation Army.

montclair kimberley academy
Montclair Kimberley Academy juniors Joe Amato (left) of Essex Fells and Ben Rapsas of Montclair raised $2,200 through a Food Run to fight hunger. Partners for Health Foundation is doubling their efforts through its Fight Hunger the Healthy Way Campaign Matching Grants Program. Pictured with the teens are Pam Scott, Executive Director, Partners for Health (right), presenting a check for $4,400 to Michele Kroeze, Business Manager, Salvation Army. Photo courtesy of the Partners for Health Foundation.

On April 6, Montclair Kimberley Academy juniors Joe Amato and Ben Rapsas worked with an organization, the Partners for Health Foundation, to help put an end to hunger. They did so by raising money through a Food Run. With their work and the dedication of the community, Amato and Rapsas raised $2,200. The Partners for Health Foundation agreed to match to donate a total of $4,400 to the Salvation Army.

The Partners for Health Foundation is a local organization dedicated to helping the needs of the surrounding area. Also including those in  Bloomfield, Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Clifton, Essex Fells, Fairfield, Glen Ridge, Little Falls, Montclair, North Caldwell, Nutley, Roseland, Verona, West Caldwell and West Orange. Their goal is to create a healthier community by advocating good health and wellness, as well as disease prevention and treatment.

Amato and Rapsas brought on their peers to join them in the Food Run held last Sunday. It was a 5K outlined by a Montclair Kimberley Academy cross-country coach. The runners began in Brookdale Park and ended at the Salvation Army, where all proceeds from the run will be donated. Due to a new grant from the Partners for Health Foundation, called the Fight Hunger the Healthy Way Campaign, the organization was able to match everything the runners raised. Resulting in a total of $4,400 to donate to the Salvation Army.

According to Pam Scott, Executive Director of Partners for Health, this campaign will also allow healthy food drives to be matched at $500 per drive. They will also match fundraising drives dollar-to-dollar. According to a press release by the foundation, the Partners for Health has already committed up to $25,000 in matching grant funds. 

Amato also stated that he and Rapsas chose to donate their funds to the Salvation Army because they were “aligned with our goal to provide healthy food to those less fortunate.” The Montclair Kimberley Academy students used their dedication to provide for the less fortunate to get their classmates involved, ultimately raising an amazing amount of funds for the Salvation Army.

For more information on the Partners for Health Foundation or how to get involved, visit their website at partnersfdn.org.

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