One summer in Camp Nesher, two guys who both lived in Teaneck, but had not yet crossed paths, met and struck up a friendship. They had a lot in common, including their mutual love for all things sports, and eventually an idea was born. Seth Silverman, a senior at Frisch, and Jacob Lerer, a senior at TABC, were both heavily involved in many athletic activities, and also enjoyed working with kids. They decided to utilize these shared interests for a greater purpose; and thus their birthday party business for kids was born.
Seth and Jacob think of every last detail to make the experience run smoothly. They show up at a designated park with all the necessary sports equipment, divide the kids up into teams and run an athletically fulfilling and engaging birthday-sports-adventure. The children each receive one of their token medals as a giveaway. In the winter, they are able to do a variation of this inside a host home, involving football, soccer, races and competitions.
But what sets this duo apart from other teens looking to have an income is that they also volunteer their business skills at Friendship Circle. When word spread around town about the success of the parties that Lerer and Silverman threw, they were asked to come teach a sports class at Friendship Circle, for special needs children, one Sunday. What ensued ended up being the highlight of the day for many kids, and the teens were asked to come back again the following week.
The children look forward to the sports component of their Sundays at Friendship Circle, and this has become a weekly gig for Silverman and Lerer. They, too, have found that they thoroughly enjoy their time at Friendship Circle. Jacob had previous experience working with special needs children on Yad B’Yad, and also as a Yachad counselor, and he was able to bring his previous knowledge of patience and compassion into the sports arena. He has noticed that the energy of the kids engaged in the games is incomparable to that at any party he has ever thrown. But Lerer says the nicest aspect is, “There is rarely someone sitting on the side. There is no fighting or meanness amongst the kids.”
For Seth, it has been his first experience of this kind, and he was pleasantly surprised to see the participation and contagious enthusiasm of the children. He has found nothing but joy and gratitude amongst the attendees and the other volunteers at Friendship Circle, and feels blessed to have this opportunity to use his skills to give back to the community.
For more information on the all-inclusive birthday party packages, please reach out to Jacob or Seth at [email protected].
By Sarah Abenaim
