Hello, I'm Sebastian DiMarco-Weinstein. Five years ago, my classmate Kaela Deriggi and I initiated a fundraising effort to purchase gifts for the children at Cohen's Children's Hospital during the holiday season. Fortuitously, for the third consecutive year, my sister, Isabella DiMarco-Weinstein, has joined our cause. This year, however, holds a unique significance. A couple of years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Michael Brincat, who works for Maimonides Hospital. During a summer fundraiser event, he shared that Maimonides receives minimal to no toys for their children during the holiday season.

       While I cherish the tradition of gifting toys to Cohen's, we have decided to redirect our efforts this year to benefit Maimonides Children’s Hospital. Cohen's is fortunate to receive substantial contributions from generous donors. Therefore, while our fundraiser remains modest, we will persist in donating to one hospital annually. If this year's fundraiser exceeds expectations, we aspire to consider supporting both hospitals in the future.

      This year, we are also privileged to collaborate with my friend Matthew Perez, the CEO of First Step Awareness nonprofit. With the collective effort of our teams, we anticipate making a substantial impact and effecting positive change this holiday season. However, the success of this fundraiser relies on YOU! We understand that current global circumstances may make it challenging to contribute, but even the smallest donation can make a significant difference. If donating is not feasible at the moment, we kindly ask you to share this initiative with your friends and family so others may contribute.

       Our goal for this year is ambitious, but we firmly believe that, with your support, it is achievable. The funds raised will be utilized to fulfill the children's gift requests. As third-year and graduate students at different colleges, our dream is to involve as many colleges in the United States as possible. If you're interested in having your school participate in the future, please feel free to contact us via GoFundMe messaging or on social media.

      This marks our fifth year contributing to hospitals, and we are excited to announce that we are in the process of establishing our official non-profit. Our commitment extends beyond the holiday season, as we plan to provide ongoing support throughout the year, ensuring children have new toys to enjoy during their treatment. We express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone for their love and support, as this initiative would not be possible without you.

      Gifts will be delivered just before the holidays, so please consider making your donation before December 9th to ensure everything arrives on time. If you encounter any difficulties with the donation process or have questions, feel free to reach out to us on GoFundMe messaging. We eagerly anticipate a successful fifth year and look forward to putting smiles on the faces the kids at Maimonides Hospital this holiday season. Happy Holidays!