40 THE QUEENS COURIER • KIDS & EDUCATION • APRIL 27, 2017 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM kids & education Ozone Park student innovators pitch their ideas to help others BY ANTHONY GIUDICE [email protected] @A_GiudiceReport Students at an Ozone Park Catholic school got the chance to pitch their ideas and help raise funds for fi ve social issues they care about in front of members of the law fi rm Reed Smith, L.L.P., at their offi ces in Midtown Manhattan, during a social entrepreneurship venture showcase. Five groups of middle-schoolers from St. Elizabeth Catholic Academy used their entrepreneurial skills to try to raise money for projects they would like to create to tackle a wide variety of issues that students face including coping with stress, obesity, protecting the environment, helping students to feel more secure, and promoting fi nancial literacy. Th e MiddyFund — a nonprofi t organization focused on promoting youth innovation — hosted the event on April 5, where the students not only pitched their ideas, but also showed off their projects for the crowd. “You’re never too young to make a diff erence,” said Revana Rahman, executive director and operations manager at MiddyFundInc. “Th e idea of MiddyFund is to promote youth innovation.” Th e projects that the students pitched included FitFix, an app that was designed to encourage today’s kids to exercise and eat healthier. Th e Purifi ers aim to “be the solution to pollution,” through their collection and repurposing of plastic water bottles. While the group called SelfSecure is hoping to develop an app that will help kids, teens and adults feel safe in their neighborhoods through a voice-activated command that will enable their cellphones to contact the police and their families if they fi nd themselves in distress. Another project pitched by the students was StressPress, an online platform that allows users to communicate with others who are dealing with the same or similar issues as a way to cope with stress. Lastly, At My Business Bank wants to increase fi nancial literacy through the development of an engaging board game that teaches money management. “Th e MiddyFund event was a great event for children my age,” said Arianna Gordon, an eighth-grader at St. Elizabeth. “I loved every second of it. Hope to do it again.” Th e MiddyFund plans to bring the student innovators to present their projects at Harvard University in May. “Th is was a great experience, and I learned so much about MiddyFund’s roots,” said Neft ali Parache, eighth-grader. “I can’t wait for Harvard.” “It’s great to work with the team from MiddyFund and develop a program that has obviously engaged all the students and empowered them to work cooperatively to address issues they face daily, utilizing entrepreneurial skill sets,” said Joseph Sawe, chairman of the board for St. Elizabeth Catholic Academy. “We look forward to partnering with them for many years to come.” Photo via Facebook/MiddyFund Five groups of students from St. Elizabeth Catholic Academy in Ozone Park recently pitched their ideas at an entrepreneurial event. Heroic story of Helen Keller, ‘The Miracle Worker,’ to debut at Queens Theatre in May BY EMILY DAVENPORT [email protected] @QNS Th e story of author and activist Helen Keller’s beginnings will be brought to life next month when the Queens Th eatre puts on “Th e Miracle Worker.” Helen Keller, who lived in Forest Hills from 1917 to 1938, was born without disabilities until an illness (believed to be meningitis or scarlet fever) left her both deaf and blind at the age of 19 months. “Th e Miracle Worker” chronicles Keller’s experiences and struggles of learning how to navigate her prison of silence and darkness with the help of Anne Sullivan, a teacher who would become Keller’s lifelong companion. “‘Th e Miracle Worker’ is the true story of two inspirational fi gures,” said Taryn Sacramone, executive director of Queens Th eatre. “It is about the power of motivation and our will to connect with other people. We know our audiences will be moved by this production.” In its 1959 Broadway debut, “Th e Miracle Worker” starred Elmhurst native Patty Duke as Keller and Anne Bancroft as Anne Sullivan, Keller’s instructor and lifelong companion. Th is time, 10-year-old Ayla Schwartz will take the lead role of Keller with Betsy Hogg as Anne Sullivan. Schwartz, a fourth-grade student at New Jersey’s Watchung Elementary School, has performed in the Off -Broadway in “Madeline’s Christmas” as well as local productions of “School of Rock” and “How to Eat Like a Child.” Hogg, a graduate of Northwestern University, began acting at the age of 9 and performed in “Bye Bye Birdie” and the National Tour of “Show Boat.” To get ready for the performance, the actors who will be putting on “Th e Miracle Worker” had the opportunity to walk in Keller’s footsteps with the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults (HKNC). Th e actors participated in a “simulation experience” in which they wore sleep shades and earplugs to experience some of what it feels like to be blind and deaf, followed by a Q&A with deaf-blind students and staff to get more insight on their struggles and experiences. “When rehearsing a powerful play like Th e Miracle Worker, the actors become immersed in every facet of the production and are keenly aware of the show’s celebrated history, including the legacies of original cast members Patty Duke and Anne Bancroft ,” noted Sacramone. “I believe that visiting the Helen Keller National Center opened up yet another dimension for us. We got to relax and spend time with some amazing people who shared their personal experiences with the cast. It was very inspiring. We’re so grateful and look forward to welcoming all our new HKNC friends to Queens next month.” Showtimes for the performance are May 12 at 8 p.m.; May 13 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; May 14 at 3 p.m.; May 18 at 2 p.m.; May 20 and 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and May 21 at 3 p.m. Tickets are available for $42 for general admission, $35 for Queens Th eatre members and $25 for rear side seats. For tickets, visit www.queenstheatre. org. Photo courtesy of Queens Theatre Betsy Hogg and Ayla Schwartz as Anne Sullivan and Helen Keller Photos courtesy of the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults
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