West Hempstead HS Students Help Spread Holiday Cheer

Submitted by Winthrop-University Hospital

Families in need will have extra special holidays this year, thanks to the efforts of staff from Winthrop-University Hospital who recently “adopted” 25 families from West Hempstead High School to shower with gifts, love and special wishes for a bright holiday season.

Staff from various departments throughout the hospital rallied together for its annual Adopt-a-Family Program and as a result, hundreds of gifts were collected – from gift cards, toys and clothing, to sporting event tickets and computers – for those in need. 

The gifts were presented to representatives from the High School on Dec. 11, 2013, so that they may deliver them to each of the families just in time for Christmas. 

“For the past few years, we have had the opportunity to provide for families in need with our Adopt-A-Family Program,” said Matti Hasselmann, MPA, CPC, Administrative Director of the Departments of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery and Orthopaedics at Winthrop. “This year, we were excited to team up with West Hempstead High School to provide for families in our community who are most deserving of a holiday that is sure to be remembered for years to come.”

The school, who has determined the recipients of the gifts, was most appreciative of the hospital’s efforts to make the holiday season less stressful for others.

“As a representative of the staff at West Hempstead High School, I would like to thank everyone involved with the ‘Adopt-A-Family’ program," said Dan Rehman, Principal of West Hempstead High School. "The time and generosity people provided to help our families is humbling." 

“The opportunity to work with Winthrop-University Hospital has been a tremendous experience," Rehman said. We learn side-by-side with our students and develop the ideas of passion, persistence and resilience. This program exemplifies the characteristics which we want our students to model.”

For more information about Winthrop-University Hospital, visit www.winthrop.org or call 1-866-WINTHROP.

Photo Caption 1: Students from West Hempstead High School’s Key Club, along with Social Studies teacher Michelle Lambo (middle row, right); Karen Brohm, President of the Board of Education (back row, right); and Principal Dan Rehman (back row, left) graciously accept gifts from representatives of Winthrop-University Hospital.

Photo Caption 2: Just one of the van loads of gifts recently presented to West Hempstead High School as a result of Winthrop-University Hospital’s 2013 Adopt a Family Campaign. 

Pictured (L-R) are Matti Hasselmann, MPA, CPC, Administrative Director of the Departments of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery and Orthopaedics at Winthrop; Dan Rehman, Principal at West Hempstead High School in West Hempstead UFSD;  and Carol Giordano, Employees Activities Coordinator at Winthrop.