Jawonio’s Film Benefit Will Be a Monster of a Night

In 2002, Jawonio—the Rockland non-profit disabilities and mental health services provider— held its first film benefit, unsure whether or not it would be successful.  

But the event was a hit, drawing in a crowd of 700 to view Seabiscuit at the Clarkstown South High School auditorium. 

The following year, Jawonio began to screen films in the Palisades Center’s movie theater. Over the past 11 years, Jawonio’s annual event has grown increasingly popular, and broadcast family movies to sold-out audiences.

Since, Jawonio’s film benefits have raised over $200,000.

The money raised at the fundraisers goes to the Early Childhood Education Services at Jawonio, which supports infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school age children with special needs.  

"A night with Jawonio is a great way to spend a summer evening at the movies, but it is also really important to raise critical funds for our youngest and most vulnerable children with special needs,” said Diana Hess, Chief Communications Officer of Jawonio.

This year, Jawonio is showing Monsters University on Thursday, July 11th at the AMC Theaters in West Nyack. The film is the critically acclaimed prequel to Monsters Inc., and has held the top box office spot for two weeks.  

“This movie resonates so much not only with children, but also with adults,” Hess said. “We try to show movies that are enjoyable for the whole family, and Monsters University is one of those movies.”  

One of the families that will be enjoying the movie is Teri Friedman and her son, Daniel.

Friedman has personally benefitted greatly from Jawonio’s Early Childhood

Program—her son Daniel was born in 1998, and from birth he suffered from ear infections and sinus infections. All he did was scream, and when he was held he would cry, Friedman said. 

“It broke my heart,” Friedman added.

At 10 months old, Daniel was diagnosed with Sensory Integration Disorder after being evaluated by Jerry Staller, division director of education and clinical services at Jawonio.

Daniel attended Jawonio’s Infant Development Program from the age of 11 months to five-years-old. By the end of the program, he was also diagnosed with Asperger’s, ADHD and speech delay. 

Additionally, at age six, he was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, celiac disease, and common variable immunodeficiency—meaning that Daniel does not make antibodies, making frequent transfusions necessary.

Friedman felt overwhelmed by all of her son’s ailments when she came to Jawonio.

“I felt ongoing frustration not knowing or being able to help my son,” she said.

However, Friedman likens her experience at Jawonio to being welcomed in by family.

“From Jerry Staller’s first evaluation, we were both treated with care, concern and love, like you would be treated by a grandfather,” she said. 

That feeling continued into the classroom, where Friedman encountered a friendship—rather than a parent-teacher relationship—with Jaime Wolf. Friedman says even 15 years later, Staller and Wolf’s names are still fresh in her mind.

Over the course of 15 years, Jawonio drastically affected the lives of Friedman and her son, she said.

“To say that Jawonio impacted Daniel’s life is an understatement,” Friedman said. “To see this happy, well-adjusted teenager, who is able to live everyday with his life, is a credit to my Jawonio family.”

Friedman says that she recommends Jawonio to other parents in the community who have children with special needs.

“Up until this day, I’ll brag about my Jawonio family and more than insist that it is the place for their child,” Friedman said. “Jawonio is a blessing that I will forever be grateful.”

Jawonio provided Friedman with so much over the years, that Friedman felt very strongly that she had to give back in whatever way she could.

“I began to feel I needed to be part of the Jawonio family,” Friedman said. “One day, I showed up in the office and said that I wanted to help.”

For the past few years, Friedman has been volunteering at the Foundation Office on a variety of events including the film benefits. 

Of her volunteerism, Friedman said, “I felt that I could never truly repay my debt to Jawonio, but I did feel I was making a difference for that next parent who shows up overwhelmed, distraught and frustrated and in need of Jawonio.”

Without the film and other fundraising events though, the future parents may never be able to experience what Friedman had.

Due to the economic downturn, Jill Warner, CEO of Jawonio, said, “We have seen a dramatic reduction in county and state funding which leads to less and less children with special needs not being able to be certified. We’re seeing children with many more complex needs which requires additional funding and more intensive family support.”

That makes the film benefit and all of the other fundraising critical to Jawonio in these challenging times.

Jawonio hopes that this year’s film screening will be its most successful yet.

“Our sponsors and families look forward to this event each year, and we are grateful for the support of a generous community. We expect a Monster of a Night for Jawonio,” Hess said.

Jawonio will be showing Monsters University at the Palisades Center’s AMC Theaters at 7 p.m. on July 11th.

To purchase tickets please click here visit the Jawonio website at www.jawonio.org/events: or to buy now: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E8298&id=20

For more information on the event, or to become a sponsor, call Irene Goldstein at 708.2000 x1329 

Editor's disclosure: author Rebecca Porath has relatives that work with Jawonio.