2015 Tourette Association-NYHV Chapter Youth Ambassador Activities

January  16, 2015 Eagle Hill School, Greenwich, Connecticut –  Matthew Eskenazi assisted by Nick Szymanski at Eagle Hill School (125 students, 25 adult staff).  The feedback was very positive.  Matt presented and Nicky assisted with the Pledge of Allegiance activity (as the teacher giving out homework) and he also answered a few questions at the end of the presentation.  After the presentation Matt said there were two students in the audience who indicated to everyone that that they too have TS.  He also received two letters from classes thanking him for the presentation and congratulating him on a job well done and the headmaster of the school shared he did an amazing job and was so poised and that the respect the students have always had for him increased exponentially! It was an amazing day as he entered his classes and his classmates were all so complimentary.

March 20, 2015 – YA Matthew Sheeley gave a presentation to 150 staff members of the Carmel, NY school system.

Spring 2015 – YA Camerin Figueroa received the Tourette Awareness Month Proclamation  from the Orange County Legislature, an event that was televised on local news cable station.  Camerin received an award from the Mental Health Association  of Orange County for his volunteer efforts including Tourette awareness and outreach.  Camerin also participated in and raised funds for the National Tourette Awareness Walk in  Flushing Meadow Park on May 31,2015.  Camerin and his mom Jocelyn joined forces with along with Megan Ouderkirk spread awareness at the Rockland County Youthfest on March 15, 2015.  Through these events Camerin reached hundreds of people.

April 14, 2015 – YA Julia Gottlieb and her mother Wendy Gottlieb did a joint presentation for the Pupil Services Parent Seminar at the George Fischer Middle School in Carmel New York to an audience of parents and educators, with Julia giving the YA presentation and Wendy giving the in-service presentation on co-morbid disorders.  Julia was joined by YAS Matthew Eskenazi, Olivia Roman and Gabriella Roman for the Q&A. (40 adults attended).

April 26, 2015 – YAS Julia Gottlieb, Nick Szymanski and Olivia Roman attended the Buddy Bowling Party at Grand Prix, Mt. Kisco, NY and spoke about their experiences as Youth Ambassadors.

April 23, 2015-  YA Kaylee Chin and her family attended the NYHV Chapter’s Dine for Tourette fundraiser at Sam’s Italian Restaurant, Dobbs Ferry, NY.

May 15 , 2015 –  Mamaroneck Avenue Elementary School, White Plains, NY Health Fair:  YAS Olivia Roman, Gabriella Roman, Matt Connolly, Nick Szymanski, Matt Eskenazi, Matt Sheeley gave presentations: Matt Sheeley and Matt Connolly presented to two classes; Matt Eskenazi and Nick Szymanski presented to one class; Kevin Fink and Olivia and Gabriella Roman presented to one class).  (22 students & 1 teacher per presentation, with a total of 5 presentations = 115 audience total). This has become an annual YA event.

May, 2015 – Yas Matt Eskenazi & Nick Szymanski – Eagle Hill School fundraiser, students who made donation were excused from adhering to dress code uniform for one day (raised $605)

June 2015, Quake Ridge Elementary School Scarsdale, NY –  YAS Olivia Roman and Jack Klion presented to the entire 5th grade (85 students, 5 teachers), YAS invited to present again in June 2016.

September  21, 2015, YA Kaylee Chin,  JLL Golf Classic, attended by 250 golfers and raised nearly $450,000.

October 18, 2015  – YAS Nicholas Szymanski, Julia Gottlieb, Matthew Eskenazi, Matthew Connolly, and Jack Klion  participated in a Chapter get-together of children and Youth Ambassadors for a trampoline and dinner event at Rock N Jump, Mt. Kisco, NY (45 total attendees including kids accompanied by parents).

October 28, 2015 – YA Jack Klion  participated in the post-production panel discussion  with a  full audience after a performance of “The Elephant in Every Room I Enter” at the La Mama Theater, NYC (sold out theater)

November 3, 2015 – YAS Olivia Roman and Gabriella Roman talked about their experiences as YAS and answered questions at the NYHV Chapter Education Program Evening to an intimate audience of parents and educators. (5 attendees)

November 6, 2015  Springhurst Elementary School, Dobbs Ferry, NY – YAS Matthew Sheeley and  Matthew Connolly presented to the entire 5th grade (students and staff  approximately 110).  This has become an annual scheduled YA event.

November 15, 2015-  NYHV Chapter Family Party,  Westchester Marriott, Tarrytown, NY Jack Klion, Kevin Fink, Matt Connelly, Julia Gottlieb, Olivia & Gabriella Roman, Matt Sheeley.   YA Jack Klion gave a speech about being a YA, and all of the YAS assisted with  the leading of “ice breaking” activities to involve all the kids who attended the event.  (79 attendees).

November 16, 2015 –  Tourette Association Gala, The Pierre, NYC  YAS Nicholas Szymanski, Julia Gottlieb, Matt Eskenazi, Matt Connolly, Jack Klion, Benjamin Tamarin participated via videotape at the Tourette Association Gala Fundraiser honoring the Zwilling Family.

December 2015 – YA Olivia Roman & Gabriella Roman, presented to the Camp Herrlich, Patterson, NY, afterschool program .  The presentation at Camp Herrlich was a success, with both girls doing a great job presenting and making sure they interacted with their audience. (18 middle-schoolers, 3 adults).