To the Editor:
On behalf of the Bayonne Babe Ruth & Cal Ripken baseball league, I would like to thank everyone for contributing to our 9th Annual Make A Kid Smile campaign.
When I first formed the Make A Kid Smile campaign nine years ago, I had no idea that it would turn into something so spectacular. Nine years later it has now turned into not only a Bayonne event but people from all over wanting to help.
As we have done for the past several years, we were able to partner with two of the league’s most generous sponsors, Modell’s Sporting Goods in Jersey City and the Bayonne PBA Local # 7(Police Benevolent Association), which made significant donations to help get things started.
After it was all said and done, the donations totaled $7,700, and we took 77 kids on an amazing shopping spree over to Modell’s in Jersey City. The smiles from the kids were priceless, and the stories on how all of you touched some of their lives makes this so special.
In the eight years since the inception of the event, with the help of all of you, we have helped raise approximately $ 68,000.
In closing, I would like to also thank my friend Jen Lapinski from Lapinski photo, who spent the entire day with me as she always does taking awesome pictures. I also want to thank all the teachers, the guidance counselors, nurses, secretaries and principals who nominated the kids from every school in Bayonne to be represented at the event. A final thanks to the Bayonne Community News for always showing your support and writing a beautiful article on the event which helps get the word out and as a result helps so much more with the donations. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. God Bless and thanks for helping to Make some kids smile.
MICHAEL MISELIS
Vice President/ Bayonne Cal Ripken Baseball league