2017 Gift Of The Heart – Clayton High School

Woodbury, NJ, February 2, 2017
For Immediate Release

The law firm of Hoffman DiMuzio has allocated close to half a million dollars to its “Gift of the Heart” Community Scholarship Foundation. Forty-one graduating seniors from Gloucester and 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 2017 “Gift of the Heart” Hoffman DiMuzio Community Service Foundation recipients are from Clearview High School: Erin Casey and Andrew String.

Erin Casey

Organizations can be a great way to become involved in one’s community. Through her involvement in 4-H and other groups, Erin Casey has found meaningful and fulfilling ways to volunteer. She explains, “I love the feeling of making a difference in someone’s life and knowing that I was able to help.”

Erin is vice president of the Canine Can-Do Dog Club at Gloucester County 4-H. As vice president, she developed the Paws 4 Heroes 5k. This fundraiser involved obtaining sponsorships, designing posters and collaborating with local businesses; ultimately over $700 was raised to match a veteran in need with a new service dog.

In addition to 4-H, Erin volunteers at Inspira hospital in Vineland. At the hospital, she helps in any way she can. Assistance ranges from delivering flowers and cards for families, to helping a patient to their car. Erin notes that a simple smile can be enough to brighten someone’s day.

In her spare time, Erin also frequently runs in charity 5ks and volunteers with her church youth group.

Thank you for your great work Erin!

Andrew String

Conceptualizing and executing an idea from scratch is a rewarding, but time consuming pastime. Andrew String did just this when spearheading the “Pack the Bus” project. Working both within his school and the greater community, Andrew sought to call attention to and help ease food insecurity.

Clearview students met to learn, discuss, and educate others about the issue and how their community is affected. Ultimately they wrote poems, and displayed them for their fellow classmates. Following requests to local businesses, and door-to-door visits, Pack the Bus collected over 1.5 tons of food and raised over $580. The culmination of these efforts was a final event in which this food was loaded onto a bus and delivered to the South Jersey Food Bank.

In addition to Pack the Bus, Andrew is the student director of the South Jersey Ronald McDonald House’s Teen Advisory Council. TAC comprises of 73 students from 32 high schools. Members cook meals for families, and sell tickets to the Spare Some Love bowling event. Other activities also include arranging for professionals from community businesses to visit and work with families. As student director, Andrew organizes meeting agendas and coordinates between the council and house residents. Way to go Andrew!

Congratulations are extended to Erin Casey and Andrew String, as well as their proud family and friends! Their community service embodies a Gift of the Heart.

Next week’s featured recipients will be from Delsea 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 2017 scholarship winners, click here.