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Bethel Park Interact Club makes first check presentation

By Harry Funk staff Writer hfunk@thealmanac.Net 3 min read
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Melina Stewart, Bethel Park Interact Club, makes an announcement during the holiday party in the Bethel Park High School cafeteria.

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Harry Funk/The Almanac

Sarah Goldenberg, left, and Kathryn Anderson work on wrapping gifts.

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Harry Funk/The Almanac

Preparing the party’s snack table are Interact Club members, from left, Abigail Goldenberg, Kristen Weiss and Gabriella Balkovec, all high school freshmen.

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Faculty co-adviser Katelyn Gensler chronicles Interact students in action.

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Gift wrappers include Rylee O'Connell and Mason Shaw.

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Harry Funk/The Almanac

Addison Hill is ready to wrap Adopt-a-Family gifts.

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Luke Fauth and Ella Morgan work on wrapping gifts.

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Emily Ashton works on writing names on Adopt-a-Family gift boxes.

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Harry Funk/The Almanac

Getting ready to wrap gifts are Mackenzie Smock, left, and Madison Geraud.

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Harry Funk/The Almanac

From left are Bethel Park High School students Faith Clunan, Gabi Shogan and Meghan Tischler.

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Among those in attendance are Bethel Park High School Principal Joe Villani, District Judge Ron Arnoni and Bethel Park Mayor Jack Allen.

The spirit of giving certainly was abundant at Bethel Park High School on Wednesday.

During a holiday party for members of the service-oriented Interact Club, which includes high school and Independence Middle School students, came the club’s first check presentation: $500 to Smiles From Sean, a nonprofit that aims to put smiles on the faces of ill children.

Harry Funk/The Almanac

Maria Rovers displays a Smiles From Sean “smiley kit.”

Also, Interact members wrapped gifts for an Adopt-a-Family program, providing Christmas presents for youngsters who otherwise would not receive much of anything.

“I love Interact because it’s a way to bring the community together while helping our community,” member Kathryn Anderson said as she gathered with fellow partygoers in the Bethel Park High School cafeteria.

The club is sponsored by two Rotary clubs, Upper St Clair-Bethel Park (Breakfast) and Bethel Park Lunch. Interact is a Rotary International program that provides students around the world with opportunities to participate in fun and meaningful service projects while developing leadership skills.

Breakfast club member Pamela Tiano joins faculty co-advisers Tracy Schuster and Katelyn Gensler in leading Bethel Park Interact. Among the students, Melina Stewart serves as president and Sarah Goldenberg, vice president.

Another Interact member is Sean Rovers, for whom his mother, Maria, named Smiles For Sean.

“He was 9 years old when he was unexpectedly diagnosed with an extremely rare type of brain cancer in 2017,” she said during the holiday party. “As a mom, I sat there watching him fighting for his life, and he was coming out of radiation treatment with still a smile on his face.”

Because her family received so much support from the community, Maria wanted to do something to support others. She formed Smiles From Sean in 2019 with the assistance of Eileen Wallace, Bethel Park School District elementary nurse.

The organization provides “smiley kits” full of fun and comforting items. Initially, the effort concentrated on patients at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, where Sean had been treated.

Harry Funk/The Almanac

Sean Rovers

“However, the pandemic made us change our mission,” his mother said. “We are now sending our ‘smiley kits’ to children with underlying medical conditions throughout the United States.”

Smiles From Sean also promotes the importance of yearly visits to the pediatrician.

“I encourage you,” Maria told the Interact students, “if there is something wrong with yourself, don’t hesitate to come up to your parents and tell them, ‘I need to get checked.'”

In the spring, she plans to continue a project Sean started this year, delivering Easter baskets to homebound children. Also, a coin collection will take place throughout Bethel Park in May, Brain Cancer Awareness Month.

“The smiley kit is not a cure for cancer or anything, but our goal is to help brighten the kids’ day.”

For more information, visit www.smilesfromsean.org.

Harry Funk/The Almanac

Harry Funk/The Almanac

The Bethel Park Interact Club presents $500 to Smiles From Sean.

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