Community Corner

Teen Creates a Birthday to Remember

Felicia Kasdan, 19, made a birthday wish that helped a group of children who need it most.

A few weeks before blowing out the candles on her 19th birthday, Felicia Kasdan made a decision to share her celebration for the benefit of others in need, creating a toy drive that delivered more than 200 toys to needy children in the Bronx.

But it was a question about what presents she wanted that started the whole thing. In early March, with her birthday approaching on the 15th, Kasdan's mother asked her what gift she wanted for her birthday.

"My mom kept asking me 'what do you want? What do you want?' and I couldn't think of anything," Kasdan said. "I kept thinking, I'm so fortunate to not need anything, so I decided to do a toy drive."

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So Kasdan asked friends and family in Mamaroneck, Harrison and beyond to chip in a toy to be donated to Montefiore Children's Hospital in the Bronx. She collected 215 toys by the end of the month—enough to fill her car.

"I didn't think we would get past 20 (toys) to be honest," said Kasdan, who lives in Mamaroneck. "People didn't just donate one—not one person gave me one toy—everyone gave me two or three toys so it added up."

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Montefiore specializes in treating children who are battling cancer; an issue close to Kasdan's heart after a friend’s sister was diagnosed during her senior year of high school five years ago. Since then she had been looking for a way to donate, and found it with the toy drive.

The hospital arranged for Kasdan to spend a few hours playing with the children at Montefiore last week when she delivered the toys. She said the visit showed her why her time with the toy drive was well spent.

"It was really sad, they were all younger, they were like nine years old," Kasdan said. "It was crazy."

Not only were the children struggling with various diseases, Kasdan said most were struggling financially as well. With expensive treatments like chemotherapy straining family budgets, many of the children go without toys while they fight for their lives.

"It was cool to have all of these toys flooding in," Kasdan said. "It was really rewarding."

It turned out sharing a birthday is a gift in itself.


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