2016 Gift Of The Heart – Gateway Regional High School

Woodbury, NJ March 14, 2016
For Immediate Release

The law firm of Hoffman DiMuzio has allocated close to a half a million dollars to its “Gift of the Heart” Community Service Scholarship Foundation. Forty-one graduating seniors from Gloucester & Salem County High Schools have been selected to receive a one thousand dollar scholarship for embodying the service ideals of the program. This week, the 2016 “Gift of the Heart” Hoffman DiMuzio Community Service Foundation recipients are from Gateway Regional High School: Leah Cohen and Kevin Trocolli

Leah Cohen

Leah has been involved in community service since middle school. Her first huge project was in preparation for her Bat Mitzvah. She collected gently used children’s books to give to the elementary schools in Camden. Subsequently, Leah Cohen visited the schools and read to the children. She was so gratified and found it so rewarding to see the children enjoy her efforts!

Next, Leah joined Rachel’s Challenge, a club dedicated to spreading acts of kindness. Some of her projects include helping out with the Pitman Food Pantry, the Big Brother Big Sister youth mentor program and participating in the Out of Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk.

Leah Cohen is also a member of the Girl’s Leadership group. She volunteers at St. John of God once a month, helping children with disabilities. As member of the National Honor Society Leah also collects funds for UNICEF.

Leah volunteers her time in nursing homes, a women’s shelter, a thrift shop and preschools. Additionally, Leah works with GRYO Squad promoting youth leadership to prevent youth substance abuse. The group does Sticker Shock Campaigns, putting stickers on alcohol describing the risks of underage drinking, so people will think twice about purchasing alcohol for minors.

If you ask Leah how she feels about doing community service she will tell you ” I will continue to do community service my whole life. I think it’s important to give back to the community and help the people who need it.” Great job Leah! We thank you.

Kevin Trocolli

Kevin is a builder of bridges! As a Boy Scout and now an Eagle Scout, community service has always been part of Kevin’s life. As a Scout member, Kevin would build small bridges for lakeside walking paths, while also repainting the sides of old houses and sheds in town.

Eventually his projects got bigger and bigger. More steady bridges were built, beautiful gardens for schools in the community were planted and a section of their park that was falling down was repaired and painted. One of Kevin’s favorite tasks was to erect a large birdhouse and create a long strip of flowerbeds along a running path for the local park.

For his Eagle Scout project, Kevin chose to help out at Glen Lake. He built a small retaining wall to help stop water runoff and refilled the area with fresh dirt. Grass seed was sprinkled in barren areas and shrubs were planted as well. The revitalization took 2 Saturdays with the help of other dedicated scout members.

Kevin is not only a builder of bridges but through his efforts within his community, a builder of goodwill and generosity for the benefit of others. Our hard hats are off to you Kevin. We thank you!      

Congratulations are extended to Gateway Regional High School’s Leah Cohen and Kevin Trocolli and to their proud family and friends! Their community service to others shows the true meaning of a Gift of the Heart!

Next week’s featured recipients will be from Glassboro High School.

Click here to read more about the Hoffman DiMuzio Gift Of The Heart Scholarship Foundation.

If you’d like to see the rest of the 2016 scholarship winners, click here.