Bruce Prince, a dedicated husband, loving father, active member of the New Jersey Jewish community and dedicated Team OHEL runner, is being honored this November at OHEL’s 46th Annual Gala Dinner. OHEL is honoring Bruce for his incredible determination as a member of Team OHEL, and the inspiration he provides to all by transforming challenges and tragedies into opportunities to strengthen the community.

For the past half a decade, Bruce has run the annual New York City Marathon as part of Team OHEL and has drawn strength from the memory of loved ones who have passed.

“I put myself through this year after year because I run for Team OHEL and that makes every mile worthwhile. Every fall, I run in memory of my brother David, who battled mental illness, and in memory of Chana Tova Poupko, young daughter of my beloved Rabbi Chaim Poupko. Chana died of cancer. This fall, I will accept this honor in their memory and with gratitude for having known them.”

Other Team OHEL members being honored who also have a New Jersey connection are Tamar Sicklick and the Levi Family—who both have much family in Teaneck, New Jersey.

Tamar Sicklick, a veteran fitness/movement specialist and mother of four who has directed Physical Education programs for the last decade, was the founder of Team OHEL. Familiar with OHEL given a family member who resides in an OHEL residence, Tamar has been greatly involved with OHEL since 2004 when she joined the Long Island Leadership Advisory Board. Since then, Tamar has found new exciting ways to utilize her 20 years of fitness experience to be an agent of change in her community, spearheading Team OHEL and sitting on the board of Camp Kaylie.

Meir Boruch Levi was born into a family already blessed with 4 children. When Mrs. Levi asked the pediatrician how to tell her other children, and how to deal with Meir’s Down’s syndrome, his answer paved the way for the Levi family. He said, “However you present it to them, that’s how they will accept it. If you present it as a tragedy, it will be! But if you present it as a fact, that’s all it will be.”

Today, Meir is a confident young man who thrives with much independence in an OHEL residence, and has recently started a new job at an ice-cream factory.

When Meir’s siblings were presented with the opportunity to run for Team OHEL—they came running, literally. They joined to not only show their appreciation to OHEL and help others, but to demonstrate to Meir how proud they are of him. Brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews have all participated in various OHEL challenges, such as the Sibs Side-By-Side 5K and OXC—OHEL Xtreme Challenge. Big Sister Esther usually takes up the rear with Meir so he doesn’t run alone.

Through their involvement with the marathon and other OHEL projects, these honorees have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Team OHEL, and continue to raise funds that allow OHEL to provide services to so many children and families in our community. Kids whose parents are unable to care for them find safe homes with loving foster families. Adults with developmental and psychiatric disabilities get the support and services they need to live with dignity. Children of all abilities come together in a community of great fun and friendship at Camp Kaylie, an integrated Jewish sleepaway camp in Wurtsboro, NY.

The Gala will take place on Sunday, November 22, 2015, at the New York Marriott Marquis at 5:00 PM. Please join OHEL for what promises to be an inspiring and memorable evening. To make reservations or place a journal ad, please visit www.ohelfamily.org/gala, call 718-972-9328, or e-mail [email protected].