Santa Cause – A Local Business Owner Creates a Holiday Gala in Support of Cooley’s Anemia Foundation
Staten Island jewelry store Casale Jewelers brings some holiday cheer and raises money for a great cause.
Staten Island, NY (PRWEB) November 29, 2010
If you’re feeling jaundiced over the usual gamut of reasons why the holidays are an exercise is crass commercialism and unbridled greed, etc., imagine instead taking part in Christmas festivities with your friends and family and doing it all for a good cause. Cory Schifter, co-owner of Casale Jewelers, makes that happen with an annual event that supports Cooley’s Anemia Foundation, which supports people who are affected with various forms of thalassemia, a genetic blood disorder. The outcome of this disease is often anemia that lasts throughout a person’s entire lifespan. Although there are different forms of treatment, the most common is red blood cell transfusions, which give the patient a temporary supply of healthy red blood cells. According to information provided by the foundation’s website, “most patients with a major form of thalassemia receive red blood cell transfusions every two to three weeks, amounting to as much as 52 pints of blood a year.”
For more than fifty years, the Cooley’s Anemia Foundation has been a strong partner for families living with thalassemia. Although now national in scope, CAF began on a local level, a fact reflected in the continuing importance of its local chapters.
After attending the foundation’s annual dinner at the Hilton Garden Inn in Staten Island with his family and co-workers, it became important to Schifter to come part of supporting the cause. “The importance of support for those with the disease and their families were clear,” he said. “The treatment includes hours and hours of blood transfusions, which is maintenance therapy, but not curative. My sister-in-law carries the trait and I recently found out that my niece has it as well, further making me eager to help.”
In the past, the original Casale Jewelers had a holiday event for the neighborhood at his house every year. Schifter decided to bring his event to Dongan Hills in an attempt to do his part in creating support for awareness of Cooley’s Anemia. The store was covered in Christmas lights and decorations, including an oversized snow globe, and Santa’s playhouse, which created a pretty nice picture for passerby. The hour-and-a-half long event boasted live music, Mr. and Mrs. Claus, dancers and even a bike-riding elf! In addition to live entertainment Casale’s offered 50/50 raffles and a “Raffle for Rock, in which one lucky visitor won an Engagement Ring. Local businesses donated ten other prizes to give away to raffle winners as well. The event was a huge success and raised over $6000, all of which was donated to the Cooley’s Anemia Foundation in support of finding a cure.
The public reaction to this event was extremely positive and a number of local businesses were involved in contributing in their own ways, whether by donating prizes for the raffles or just giving their time and talent to help decorate the store, provide music, and much more. Businesses include Xtreme Houselifts and PH Pressure Washing for help with the lighting of the store, NYC Arts Cypher, DJ Mega Mix and Zumba by Angela.
In light of its huge success, Cory has made a commitment to hold this even every year in honor of this foundation. “I believe in supporting charities such as this one in order to relieve some of the suffering that children are faced with. It is a difficult world and we are all faced with challenges; it is our responsibility as members of a community to support each other.”
The store is lit and the big event raffle and entertainment will be held on Wednesday December 15th at 7 p.m. Click here to view the Facebook event page and be kept up to date on special guests, rainout date if necessary and more.
If you would like to contact Casale Jewelers for that special gift, please call Cory Schifter at (718) 351-8300. Casale Jewelers on Staten Island has been in operation since 1986 has been owned by Cory Schifter since August of 2009. Formerly the owners of Independent Jewelers, Casale Jewelers is a retail jeweler with a jewelry designer, licensed repairman and diamond setter, gold and diamond buyers, and a full staff of trained professionals with over 15 years of experience on site. The large showroom, located in Dongan Hills, features over 10,000 items in inventory including gold and diamond earrings, pendants, bracelets, necklaces and bridal gifts. They also have a website where they design personalized jewelry including lockets, photo pendants & more. All can be ordered from the store location.
Click here to read how Casale Jewelers helped a customer receive a brand new Engagement Ring after it fell in a lake in Disney World.
Top brands include Swarovski, Benchmark Wedding Bands, Posh Mommy, Hershey Kiss, Kameleon JewelPops, ZABLE Beads & Charm Bracelets, PicturesOnGold.com, Adami & Martucci Fine Italian Jewelry.
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Article documented in the November/December edition of Industry Magazine Staten Island.