Locks of Love, College Grants Available and Team Sports for Kids with Special Needs

Scarsdale's Jordana Wiener, age 13, and Skylar Matusz, age 9, both cut off their long hair and donated it to Locks of Love, a non-profit organization that uses the hair to make hair pieces for financially disadvantaged children who have lost their own hair from alopecia areata. The hair pieces help children to restore self-esteem and confidence. They are provided free of charge or on a sliding scale, based on financial need. To learn more about Locks of Love, click here: 

College Grants Available:
Applications for a one-year grant from the Scarsdale High School PTA Scholarship Fund for college are now available. The application form and the dean's evaluation form may be downloaded from the Scarsdale High School PTA website, or may be obtained from the deans' offices at the High School. Completed applications must be submitted by May 2. For additional information regarding the Scholarship Fund, visit the PTA website or contact Suzanne Glaser.

Team Sports for Children with Special Needs:
In recognition of April as Autism Awareness Month, Back Yard Sports Cares highlights the successful team oriented sports programs it provides to children with autism at the organization's 4th annual 3-on-3 Basketball fundraiser. BYSC founder, Danny Bernstein, points to his company's Backyard Sports Plus subdivision, which holds a program in the main gymnasium on the SUNY Purchase, NY campus.

Under adult supervision and instructional staff, student volunteers are paired with special needs children for one-on-one recreational sports sessions. "The goal is to give kids a positive social experience via sports," says Bernstein.

The customized sports activities are kept simple, matching the activity to the abilities of the individual child and letting the child progress through a series of attainable goals.

Though the benefits to the children are obvious, Danny Bernstein emphasizes that it is often the parents that gain the most from BYSC's programs. "They (the parents) see their children participating in sports; they see that their kids can learn, improve and achieve," he says, "Our unique model truly connects and breaks through to kids and teens on the spectrum every day and that's a pretty powerful result for both parent and child.

3-On-3 Basketball Tournament - How to Register

On April 16th, BYSC is hosting the organization's 4th annual 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament fundraiser. Anyone interested in entering a team at Iona Preparatory School in New Rochelle should click here.

Play is divided into four (4) divisions:
• Open - most competitive
• 35 years+ - competitive
• Adult Recreation
• High School - grades 9-12

All games will be in a played in a round robin format. Team registration is $1,800 and covers three (3) - five (5) players, includes jerseys, food and beverage and assorted favors. The registration fee is tax deductible. Corporate matches are welcome.