United Hospice of Rockland’s (UHR) Youth for Hospice (YFH) has launched a North Rockland High School satellite group. Serena Yanitelli is the president and Jillian Colleluore is the vice president.
Serena Yanitelli is a junior at North Rockland High School who says that she feels the need “to make more young people aware of the importance of their participation in community events.” She is a gifted artist who sold an acrylic to raise funds for the Hopper House in Nyack, won first place in “Keep Rockland Beautiful” t-shirt design and in the Siegelbaum Literary and Visual Arts Competition with her charcoal print that is on display at the Holocaust Museum and Study Center.
She interned at the Haverstraw Arts Alliance raising funds for the Hi-Tor Animal shelter and the North Rockland Rowing Club. Driven by personal experience, and inspired by the programs UHR supports, Serena began to participate in several YFH events and then was inspired to initiate the North Rockland satellite group
Youth for Hospice was founded in 2008 ago by twelve sophomores at Clarkstown North High School in New City. Those girls now attend colleges including Duke, Tufts, University of Pennsylvania, Emory and Syracuse. The legacy they left behind continues to grow and the current membership of Youth For Hospice is comprised of boys and girls, freshmen to seniors, and has expanded to include students from several area high schools. Two satellite groups of students from Tappan Zee High School and Nyack High School were formed in Fall 2011. North Rockland High School is the third.
For more information about forming additional YFH satellite groups or becoming a YFH member, please contact. Lisa Denburg, UHR Assistant Director of Development, 845 634-4974, ldenburg@hospiceofrockland.org.
Members of YFH, who receive community service hours for meetings and events, assist at many of United Hospice of Rockland’s ongoing programs and events, including Hugs for Hospice, the Annual Walkathon, Trees of Life, Spring Gala, Africa Hospice Project and blood drives. Some members volunteer in the office as well. The fifth annual Dance-A-Thon raised a record $18,000 to benefit United Hospice of Rockland.
United Hospice of Rockland (UHR) serves as a resource for palliative care, bereavement support, and information about end of life issues. Founded in 1988, United Hospice of Rockland is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and meets the Standards for Charity Accountability of the Better Business Bureau, Inc. In addition, UHR received a third consecutive 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator.
UHR's mission is to enable patients with advanced illnesses to live in comfort, with dignity, and surrounded by those they love. When time matters most, UHR provides care, comfort and improved quality of life to individuals and their families and offers compassionate support to members of the community who have experienced the loss of a loved one. For more information, call 845 634-4974, write to United Hospice of Rockland, 11 Stokum Lane, New City, NY 10956, visit www.hospiceofrockland.org or fax to 845 634-7549.
