WITH Grace Initiative Supports Children with Cancer

By Jackie Schatell

Fourteen-year-old cancer survivor Grace Eline, of Long Hill Township, is determined to be the voice for kids with cancer. She gives back whenever she can and actually began supporting pediatric cancer charities before she was even diagnosed at nine, in 2018, with a Germinoma, which is a rare brain tumor. Her mother, Aubrey, says that as a child, for her birthday, Grace always asked for donations to St. Jude instead of gifts. In addition, while she was sick, Grace didn’t let her cancer get her down; rather, she continued to give back to others even through her fight. She says, “It was healing to give back.” Once Grace was in remission two years later, she started the WITH Grace Initiative.

Three teens, two high school seniors at Academy for Allied Health Sciences, who are from New Providence, Anuva Yonzon, and Rafay Niazi, and Neil Pandey, an 11th grader at Newark Academy, who is from Basking Ridge, have founded a tutoring organization called NJ Academic Resources Alliance (NARA), which offers free tutoring to students in elementary school and middle school who reside in many local towns.

They founded NARA in 2020, during the pandemic, with a goal of leveling the playing field for all students who need tutoring. Their mission is to offer free extra academic support to students in need, and their tagline on their website is “Education Without Expense.”

“We feel that education and potential shouldn’t be limited by economics, so we do it for free,” says Anuva.

The teens look at NARA as offering two-way learning. The students get tutored, and the tutors learn from the experience of interacting with students and their parents. “The families have been very welcoming, and we see our students as family,” says Neil.

Right now, there are 37 tutors at NARA offering help in all subjects. They tutor one-on-one remotely and have sessions daily. In addition, the tutors create unique educational plans/curriculums for their students.

NARA’s vision is to become a national organization that helps all students in need. In addition, the teens hope that NARA will become an organization that provides opportunities for young people to volunteer to create change, and that NARA becomes a valuable asset for students who need support.

“We feel pretty good about what we are doing, and we are part of NARA because it is something we believe in,” says Rafay.

To sign up for tutoring, or to be a tutor, go to NARAtutoring.org

The WITH Grace Initiative was created to make an impact by supporting pediatric cancer research initiatives and families when they need it most. Wanting no one to feel alone, the Initiative connects and supports pediatric cancer warriors. Through the organization, Grace collects supplies and gifts to give to less fortunate cancer families nationally, reaching 16 states to date, so they can focus on the fight. She also works to gather funds to support pediatric cancer research initiatives and provide cancer family support.

Grace actively drives awareness for the need for pediatric cancer funding “so no one else has to feel the pain of this disease.” One of the main goals of the WITH Grace Initiative is to impress upon the government the need for less toxic treatments and side effects for children “because as young people, those in remission have long lives ahead of them,” explains Grace. In fact, the teen has advocated at the state and federal level for bills to help children with cancer.

The WITH Grace Initiative also hosts fundraisers to raise money for pediatric cancer research. This year, there are plans for a virtual wine tasting, a dance-a-thon, and a mini golf tournament. The Initiative also sponsors free family photo shoots.

“We inspire acts of kindness towards others with Grace,” says Grace, who also hosts virtual get-togethers with kids in treatment or survivorship to make them feel connected, cared about, and to let them know they are not alone. Grace says doing these Zoom calls was especially important during COVID when everyone, particularly cancer patients and survivors, was feeling isolated.

Grace boasts an impressive resume for someone so young. In late 2022, Grace was honored during NJ Devils Hockey Fights Cancer night, for being a true inspiration. In 2019, she was honored at the State of the Union address by President Trump who used her story to encourage Congress to support a $500 million increase in funding for childhood cancer research. In addition, Grace travels to be a keynote speaker at both national and international corporate meetings and association conferences.

Grace’s mom Aubrey says, “Grace was always an old spirit. She is the voice for the ones who are no longer here and for the ones still in the fight.”

To learn more, go to: WITHGraceInitiative.org

New Jersey Academic Resource Alliance

If you know someone that goes above and beyond, send an email to jackie.subessex@gmail.com

If you know someone that goes above and beyond, send an email to jackie.subessex@gmail.com

8th Annual Pasta Dinner & Basket Raffle

The Community Service Association of New Providence (CSA), together with the New Providence Lions Club, will host a fun, family-friendly that includes a feast of pasta, salad, and dessert.

The Community Service Association of New Providence is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which provides temporary assistance to New Providence residents with financial needs. This could mean helping a family or individual with medical bills, paying utility bills or rent, supplying food, and more.

The CSA also works with New Providence’s Boy Scouts/Cub Scouts and Faith Lutheran Church on the annual, town-wide Scouting for Food drive and the new LINC Food Pantry started by New Providence High School students.

“We are excited to bring back the Pasta Dinner & Basket Raffle for the first time since 2020,” said CSA President Thomas Montrone. “We hope people will come out to enjoy a delicious meal and try to win terrific prize baskets for a great cause,” he continued.

Sunday, March 26, 3-7pm DeCorso Community Center

15 East Fourth Street, New Providence

Musical Production

The West Orange High School drama department will present the Musical “Grease.’ Travel back to 1959 and join star-crossed Sandy, Danny, and the students of Rydell High as they sing about “Summer Lovin’”, “Greased Lightnin’,” and “Those Magic Changes,” along with all the other songs you know and love. Join us this spring as the West Orange High School Drama Department will perform one of the world’s most popular musicals, Grease!

West Orange High School

51 Conforti Avenue, West Orange

Friday, March 31 and Saturday, April 1, 7pm

Sunday, April 2, 2pm www.WOBOE.org/WOHSDramaTix

Summit Symphony Orchestra

The Summit Symphony Orchestra, celebrating 84 years of free concerts in Summit, continues its season with Music Director Michael Avagliano who will lead the orchestra in performances of Tchaikovsky’s Slavonic March, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Ballade, and Edward Elgar’s Enigma Variations.

The Summit Symphony has been providing free orchestral concerts for the Summit area since 1938.

Sunday, March 26, 2pm

Summit High School

125 Kent Place Boulevard, Summit www.summitsymphony.org

Ride the Easter Bunny Express!

For over 30 years the Museum has been welcoming the thousands of families who come to Whippany to celebrate the return of Spring with this fun-themed train ride through Morris County! The Easter Bunny and helpers will be on board the train greeting everyone during the 45-minute round-trip ride along the historic Whippanong Trail.

Your train ride experience departs from and returns to the Whippany Railway Museum site in Whippany. Guests enjoy the comfort of heated passenger coaches as the Bunny makes his way through the cars to visit with you and your children.

Kids are sure to be delighted when they receive a special gift from the Easter Bunny while riding aboard this memorable train. Guest will ride on one of the Easter Bunny premium club cars:

Subscription Club Car: “Lackawanna No. 2454”—Surround yourself with the grandeur of another era onboard the award-winning Lackawanna Subscription Club Car No. 2454, which radiated elegance on a train once known as ‘The Millionaire’s Express’ that operated between Hoboken Terminal and Gladstone.

Club Car: “Jersey Coast”—The Central Railroad of New Jersey club car ‘Jersey Coast’ is a beautifully-restored car that features all the amenities offered by the CNJ’s deluxe ‘Blue Comet’ passenger train of the 1930s. ‘The Blue Comet’ ran between Jersey City and Atlantic City, and the striking paint scheme of cream and blue reminds one of a comet streaking through space.

Coach Car: Our standard “Dieseliner” coaches may look modern, but they are historic in their own right. Still in service at Whippany over a half-century since they were constructed, you can enjoy a relaxing ride onboard these cars that once conveyed commuters to Hoboken Terminal from 1970 through the early2000s.

This is a limited-time event, and the rides usually sell out early, so advance online reservations are strongly recommended!

Sunday, March 26; Saturday, April 1; Sunday, April 2; Saturday, April 8 1, 2, 3 & 4pm Whippany Railway Museum, Railraod Plaza, Whippany 973-887-8177 www.WhippanyRailwayMuseum.net

Adventure, Relax

Fifth Annual Summit Repair Cafe 2

023 marks Summit Repair Cafe’s fifth year of hosting repair events. Each event has diverted an average of 480 pounds of beloved but broken items from entering the landfill. Repair services available at this event will include sewing/textiles, lamps, computers, clocks, woodworking, knife sharpening and bicycles. To allow all patrons to have the opportunity for repair, repairs are limited to 2 total items per person.

Replacement parts for lamps and clocks will be available for an at-cost fee. Please only bring items that you can carry into our event unaided. No appointment is necessary!

Summit Repair Cafe events are co-sponsored by the Summit Area Green Faith Circle and Repair Cafe Garden State.

Saturday, March 25, 11am-3pm (last items accepted for repair 2:30pm) Christ Church 561 Springfield Avenue, Summit www.repaircafegs.org