A total of $2,000 went to Scio Central School thanks to the Scio Lions Club and the Brandel-Murphy Youth Foundation. From left, Scio Lions Club Board member John Santora, Scio Central Director of Pupil Personnel Services Kelly Morehouse, Scio Central School Cafeteria Manager Cindy Winchell, Scio Lions Club Treasurer Joe Nickerson and Scio Lions Club President Curt Burdick. (JOHN ANDERSON PHOTO)
By JOHN ANDERSON
A group of students at Scio Central School will be heading home with delicious and nutritious meals on weekends and school breaks thanks to a donation from the Scio Lions Club and the Brandel-Murphy Youth Foundation.
“There are some students and families who need a little help and this food will go a long way to feed 15 students,” said Scio Central School Cafeteria Manager Cindy Winchell, who accepted donations with Kelly Moorehouse, the Director of Pupil Personnel Services at Scio.
The first $1,000 for the program came from The Brandel-Murphy Youth Foundation. Past Lions Club District Governor Barry Haywood of Dansville came to Scio Central School to make the donation to the school.
The Scio Lions Club didn’t stop there.
Past District Governor and Scio Lions Club President Curt Burdick along with Scio Lions Club Treasurer Joe Nickerson and Scio Lions Club Board member John Santora matched the $1,000 from the Brandel-Murphy Youth Foundation. As a result, two checks were awarded to the school for $2,000.
The food will come from a Feeding America PackPack Program.
Since its inception in 2011, the Brandel-Murphy Youth Foundation has awarded 154 grants in the amount of $281,378 impacting the lives of nearly 185,000 children in need.
ABOUT THE FOUNDATION
During their years on the Board of Lions Clubs International, Past President Al Brandel and Dr. Maureen Murphy celebrated the “Everyday Heroes” who performed “Miracles Through Service.” Throughout their travels they were frequently drawn to a cause close to both of their hearts — children.
For 20 of his 35 years as a Detective with the Nassau County Police Department on Long Island, Past President Al had been assigned to the Juvenile Aid Bureau specializing in cases involving child abuse, missing children and domestic violence involving children.
At the conclusion of his year as International President (2008-2009), Al and Maureen were offered a gift as a thank you from the Lions of MD20.
Instead of the gift, Al and Maureen decided to use that donation to establish the Foundation that bears their name. With this seed money, a Board of Trustees was formed and the Brandel-Murphy Youth Foundation was born.
This is how the $2,000 matching Standard Grants to children in Scio happens. There are also $2,500 Emergency Grants, as well as a new Major Grant program. Due to the efforts of those Lions who have applied for these grants nearly 185,000 children in need have received assistance.
You can learn more at their website (www.brandelmuprhyfoundation.org).
They have also awarded:
• Humanitarian Assistance Grants (which help children, like the grant for Scio Central School)
• Humanitarian Grants Programs (most recently helped children after devastation in Haiti)
Al and Maureen helping children in Haiti www.brandelmuprhyfoundation.org
• Emergency Assistance Grants (helping those in our country after natural disasters)
Also at the website, you can find out how your $300 donation to the Foundation allows you to honor someone with a Brandel – Murphy Foundation “Everyday Hero” Fellowship (BMF).
