Number of Participants: 300
Hours Donated: 3
Value of Time Served: $7,605
Event Type: Health & Medicine
Activity: Schools
Date: June 2, 2025
Location:
Arrowhead Elementary School
Arrowhead Lane, Setauket- East Setauket
NY
About:
On May 20, Arrowhead Elementary School proudly served as an official stop for the ALS Ride for Life, a powerful event that honors the legacy of Chris Pendergast, who founded the ride in 1997 to raise awareness and funds for ALS research and patient care.
In the weeks leading up to the visit, the Arrowhead community — students, staff and families alike — rallied with compassion and enthusiasm to support the cause. Thanks to the leadership of Gina Schwarz’s fourth grade class, Melissa Swart and Christine Callan’s prekindergarten enrichment classes and school social worker Judy Forgione, the school raised an impressive $2,300 through a series of spirited fundraisers and an online donation campaign.
Fundraising events included two themed spirit days in February, “Dream of a Cure for ALS” and “Strike Out ALS,” as well as a May sale of ice pops and ALS awareness bracelets. Morning announcements throughout the campaign featured important facts about ALS and messages reinforcing teamwork, May’s character trait of the month.
Earlier in the school year, Arrowhead hosted a powerful “Overcoming Adversity” assembly for students in grades four through six. ALS patient Jordan Tarazi and members of the Ride for Life team shared their personal stories, inspiring students to reflect on the values of resilience, empathy and perseverance.
On the day of the Ride’s visit, the school community came together in a moving display of unity. Students and staff lined the bus circle wearing Yankees apparel or school colors in honor of Lou Gehrig and the Ride’s founder, Chris Pendergast. Banners, posters and pinwheels decorated the campus, echoing Pendergast’s inspiring words: “There’s a cure blowin’ in the wind.”
Arrowhead Elementary’s heartfelt participation in the ALS Ride for Life is a testament to the power of community, compassion and the belief that every effort counts in the fight for a cure.
Photo caption: Arrowhead Elementary students, ALS Ride for Life participants and school administrators gathered together in a show of unity and support during the Ride for Life visit, honoring the legacy of Chris Pendergast and the fight against ALS.
Photos courtesy of The Three Village Central School District
