Fort Lee Students Raise Money for CLAWS

For two weeks in May, during recess at Fort Lee School School No. 4, nine-year-old Daniella Macri, a cheerleader who loves to dance, worked tirelessly braiding multi-colored string bracelets while deciding how to put together a very special fundraiser.

Joining her in her efforts were other nine- and 10-year-old girls from her school: Sofia Esposito, Brittany and Shelby Davis and Emely Camejo. In her spare time, Kayla Limbardo, Daniella’s cousin from Tenafly’s Stillman School also lent her efforts to the cause.

The reason for the whirlwind of activity around the girls? A desire to sell the bracelets to raise money to help the animals at Closter Animal Welfare Society (CLAWS), a nonprofit, all-volunteer group that rescues, fosters and adopts homeless cats and dogs.

"Mommy, there are lots of animals in need, and we want to help them,” Daniella told her mother, Michelle Limbardo, when she first came up with the idea for the fundraiser.

No stranger to thinking charitably, earlier this year Daniella donated 10 inches of her hair to Locks of Love, a nonprofit organization that provides hairpieces to children suffering from medical conditions, and found it so fulfilling that she is currently in the process of growing out her hair only to cut it off again.

With great determination the girls set to work preparing for the sale, by creating and posting fliers with pictures of little puppies on them in the Fort Lee Community Center and on street poles, and by having their principal announce the fundraiser at their school.

The fundraiser for CLAWS took place just before Memorial Day weekend. The girls set up a bracelet and lemonade stand in front of Daniella’s house. The plan was to charge $1 per glass of lemonade and $3 per bracelet, but soon the town took matters into its own hands. Landscapers happily pressed $20 bills into their hands for the beverage and refused to accept the change; Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich stopped by to make a purchase and curious passersby hearing their story, bought their products and didn’t hesitate to turn down the change the eager girls offered from their ever-growing coffer.

"I am very proud of Daniella and her friends," Michelle Limbardo said. "All I did was make the lemonade. They created the bracelets, posted flyers around the neighborhood, spread the word about the fundraiser and raised the money. Their dedication and love for animals was the motivator for the sale."

Daniella and her friends raised $421 by selling lemonade and about fifty bracelets, and mostly because people are inspired by others who act selflessly to help others who can’t help themselves, even if they are just a handful of little girls determined to make a difference.

The children’s dedication did not go unnoticed.

"I think it shows character for a child to volunteer their time to help an animal,” said CLAWS president Rebecca LaPira. “CLAWS is lucky to have so many young people that want to contribute their time and energy, such as these girls, and for that we are extremely grateful.”