Area 1: Goals:

The main focus of the alliance between the West Brook React Club and the Paramus Rotary Club is to develop responsible citizens through service to their local, national and international communities. The activities that React members engage in exemplify the vision and the purpose of the NJ Core Curriculum Standards in Social Studies. They are synonymous with the goals of the partnership between the West Brook React Club and the Paramus Rotary Club - "to provide students with the knowledge, skills and attitudes they need to be active, informed, responsible citizens who are contributing members of their communities" (NJ Department of Education, 2005).

The West Brook React members are models of concerned, caring citizens who respond to the needs of their communities and participate in activities that foster understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures allowing them to be part of the problem-solving base and the ultimate solution.

Area 2: Activities:

When React members saw the devastation caused by the national disaster of Hurricane Katrina, they felt compelled to act. React ran a "Be A Life Saver Campaign" to aid the victims. The project raised over $2,500. Through social services, React sought out the Gonzales family; Mom, Dad, and three boys Hugo 13, Oscar 9, and Alfredo 1, who had been relocated to NJ. They lived in New Orleans and lost everything they owned due to Katrina. At one point the Gonzales family was living in their car for about two weeks. With winter approaching the family needed coats. React invited the Gonzales Family to breakfast at West Brook where they gave the family clothes, food, toys, and gift certificates. Our Rotary liaison, Marty Diamond, met the family at our breakfast and introduced them to the Paramus Rotary Club. Our Superintendent of Schools heard Mr. Gonzales' plea for work and invited him to apply for a position as custodian. He is now working for the Paramus Board of Education.

Paramus' Mayor Tedesco heard about the work React was doing and wanted to help. The town offered to let the Gonzales family live in a home, which the town had purchased for future use. On Christmas Eve, React and the Rotary along with several Paramus High School clubs, staff, parents and the Mayor helped clean out the home. Like the ripple effect of a pebble being thrown into water, word spread throughout Paramus, and the entire community appeared to respond. Rotary members painted the house, the local firemen put down the new carpeting. Perhaps the best part of this story is that Hugo and Oscar are now attending the Paramus Public Schools and Hugo is the newest member of the West Brook React Club helping to spread our motto, "Service above self".

The React's international project involved the "Gift of Life', a Rotary sponsored program that provides life saving heart surgery to children. Rotary invited React to a luncheon to hear about the partnership between the Paramus Rotary and Saint Joseph's Hospital in Paterson. The children responded with an unbelievable commitment to raise enough money to sponsor a "Gift of Life" child in the club's first year. React' s first "Gift of Life" child, Mercy is an 8 year-old girl from Ecuador.
React and their Rotary mentors greeted Mercy at Newark airport with banners welcoming her to the United States. The Richard Rivera family of West Brook opened their home and hearts to host Mercy and her mom during their stay in Paramus.

React continued to support Mercy by visiting her at the Rivera home and at the hospital. React worked with the Paramus Rotary and Saint Joseph's Hospital to obtain the medical care Mercy needed to be healthy. The surgery was an extreme success, and Mercy is back in her village enjoying her energetic life. React and the community will forever remember the joy expressed through the shimmering eyes of a grateful mother for helping to heal her child. There is no greater expression of human kindness than to respond to the needs of a child.

The React Club didn't stop there! Marty Diamond, informed React of the Rotary's intentions to help Saint Joseph's Hospital sponsor a "Gift of Life" mission to Vietnam. The pediatric heart surgery team would travel to Vietnam to perform heart surgery on sixteen children. React went to work raising more money to sponsor their second "Gift of Life" child. This mission was successful and surgeons plan to expand their efforts to other countries that do not have the medical expertise to save these children. React and Rotary will be joining hands again to support the future medical missions of Saint Joseph's Hospital.

Two years ago React adopted an inner-city school in Passaic, NJ as part of their response to the needs of local communities. React ran a book drive and brought hundreds of books to School Number 16 in the hopes of encouraging literacy in our youth. They visited the school again in October to paint pumpkins that were supplied by the Rotary, and read selected Halloween stories to the children. React participated in a Flat Stanley project with the students of School Number 16.

The kindergartners read Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown. Stanley is the main character in the book; a bulletin board falls on him, leaving him as flat as a piece of paper. Stanley is mailed all over the world in an envelope. Children in School 16 created their own Flat Stanley and mailed them to West Brook. React members took Flat Stanley to New York City, skiing in Pennsylvania, Paramus Park Mall, and Flat Stanley even visited our classrooms! React members took photographs and kept journals of Flat Stanley's adventures for the children.

React's bond with School 16 continued to flourish when 175 of their kindergartens visited West Brook to have breakfast with Santa Claus. React invited Rotary to share the breakfast with the youngsters. Pancakes and hot cocoa were served to their guests. After eating, each child put together a craft with the help of React.

The most exciting part of the breakfast was Santa's arrival. Old Saint Nick read The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore. Each child sat on Santa's lap, had a picture taken, and was given a goody bag and coloring book. The children participated in a holiday sing-a-long with our chorus and flute choir. React, their Rotary mentors and the kindergartners were spotted dancing in the aisles.

Area 3: Outside Resources:

The acts of giving kindness appeared to spread like the passing of the Olympic torch from the hands of the children who are React to the Paramus Rotary and the following list of businesses who have supplied materials and services to help React's community service projects: Paramus Rotary Club, Paramus Board of Education, West Brook staff and PTA, Paramus Mayor and Borough Council, Paterson Rotary Club, Elmwood Ford, Western Boot World, New York Life, Crown Plaza Hotel, Dr. Sluka, Dr. Saferstein, Dr. Sapienza, Westfield Corporation, J.C. Penny, Commerce Bank, Paramus Lumber, Norton Paints, Modern Floors, Paramus Fire Department, La Bella Roma Pizza, Home Depot, Greenland Nursery, Thompson Construction, O'Connell Plumbing, IKEA, P.C. Richards, Santanna Plumbing, "Gift of Life" of America, LKU Engineering, Saint Joseph's Hospital, and Pomptonian Food Services. The children who are React have learned the value of good citizenship through these people's generous spirits.

Area 4: Evaluation:

There are 94 active members of React. They have raised over $18,000 in the last two years. Channel 12 News came to the Gonzales' home on Christmas Eve to interview React members along with local papers, The Town News and The Record. WOR Radio honored our React Club as "The Good Guy of the Week" saying that it was an amazing story seeing 13 year-olds spearhead a community service project that motivated an entire community to get involved. Tim Fleischer of Eyewitness News called these efforts by React "an extraordinary accomplishment."

We have numerous thank-you letters from people and organizations the students have helped. Parents have said that React is the most meaningful experience their children have ever participated in. The entire West Brook staff has participated in at least one of the React sponsored events; there is significant parental and community support. Hundreds of businesses and people have helped React achieve its mission. Perhaps the greatest evaluation comes from Mercy saying, "Thank-you React for my new heart."

Area 5: Stability:

React has been in existence for two years. The program is self-funding; fundraising and the solicitation of services are employed to complete our service projects. Students were recruited through a kickoff program designed by the Rotary, school administrators, React Advisors, and members. Many teachers refer children to React as a means of fostering friendship and social skills. Children are always welcome, but expected to be contributing members of the club. The Paramus Board of Education, Paramus Rotary Club, and Passaic School District have recognized students for their service efforts. A React member was recently recognized on the national and state levels with the Prudential Spirit Award.

Area 6: Endorsements:

Jessie Diamond, the React President, who initiated the club through a proposal to the principal and Board of Education has stated, A dream of mine would be to see every middle school in the United States have a dynamic React Club just like ours here at West Brook, so every middle school student would know what it feels like to make a difference in the life of another person.

Dr. Dime, Superintendent of Schools proclaimed, The partnership that has been established between West Brook's React Club and the Paramus Rotary fully supports the mission of the Paramus Schools in that we want our students to be open-minded, lifelong learners who pursue their dreams and add value to the world. Through the "Gift of Life" program, the adoption of a family that survived Hurricane Katrina and other projects, our students and Rotary members have formed an outstanding partnership that has been recognized by the parents, community, and Rotary.

Maureen Moran President of the Paramus Rotary Club affirms, In the continuing tradition of "Service Above Self," the establishment of the West Brook React Club as an extension of the Paramus Rotary Club has been a great partnership. Early on, middle school children have learned the value of civic responsibility by holding fundraisers to aid the community as well as the world at large. The West Brook React has raised more than $18,000 for various causes including victims of the Asian Tsunami, books for disadvantaged children and senior citizens, heart surgery for an Ecuadorian child, and school supplies for children who are victims of Hurricane Katrina. Recently, React has helped a family from New Orleans relocate to Paramus. Seeing the students' dedication and their tireless efforts at such a young age motivates others to add value to the world.