Horace Mann - Summer 2016 - 31

News of the School place on campus, many participants engaged with several of HM's regular community partners, including Riverdale Senior Services, Van Cortlandt Park, Kingsbridge Heights Community Center, Habitat for Humanity, the Point CDC, and New York Common Pantry. Recognized for its work by several organizations, the CCVA most recently received a Community Service Award from Bronx Community Board No. 8 in May 2016. Horace Mann School's First Relay for Life Joins HM's Ongoing Cancer Fighting Efforts orace Mann School's ongoing drive to aid the fight against cancer got a boost from its newest partner in this effort when HM became part of the Relay for Life movement, holding a first-ever "Relay" event on May 14, 2016. Relay for Life fundraising events involve over four million people in more than 20 countries in raising funds and awareness to save lives from cancer. Over 200 HMers organized 23 teams, and raised nearly $50,000. Another 200 community members came to campus to support the "Relay" walkers, listen to speakers from the HM community, including two current students who discussed their own experiences with cancer, and to performances by HM student singers and musicians. Participants also enjoyed a barbecue and carnival-type attractions. The event was organized by Ander Legaspi '16, with assistance from Coach Ray Barile, Horace Mann Head of School Dr. Tom Kelly, HM Student Body Presidents Max August '16 and Russell Mindich '16, and more. Legaspi has been deeply involved in the fight against cancer since losing his mother to breast cancer when he was 14. He has since raised over $250,000 through various efforts, and was honored by the Eastern Division, American Cancer Society, Inc. HM students have long supported cancer fighting initiatives in efforts large and small. The school also coordinates a high school version of the Coaches vs. Cancer movement that involves boys' and girls' varsity basketball teams in an annual fundraising tournament. Coach Barile brought the effort to HM 17 years ago, and has been honored for this work by the American Cancer Society in ceremonies at Madison Square Garden. HM's Coaches vs. Cancer efforts have raised $559,586 since 1998. The Lions Varsity wrestling team is involved with cancer-fighting efforts as well, as part of the Pin Cancer/Wrestle for a Cure initiative that raises funds for cancer research with every pin a wrestler records. HM's 2015 team raised $35,712, the largest amount in Pin Cancer's history. Coordinated by Coach Gregg Quilty, the 2015 team was recognized with the Wesson Award as the number one team in the nation for money raised. The 2016 team continued this effort. Horace Mann School Builds Habitat for Humanity Homes for Two Families V eterans Day 2015 marked the completion of the first Habitat for Humanity home built completely by Horace Mann School students and faculty members through a recent initiative that involves the HM community with this international home-building effort. The house, in nearby Yonkers, N.Y., became a home to the family of an Army Reserve National Guard veteran who had served in Afghanistan, when he, his wife and two young children moved in just before photo by Jasmin Ortiz H Thanksgiving 2015. In June 2016 a second family moved into a second Habitat house, built and sponsored by HM. HM students and teachers have been working with Habitat for Humanity through its Habitat Club for about 15 years, in Costa Rica, New Orleans, and in New York following Hurricane Sandy. In 2014 HM initiated a program that included the school's student athletes in Habitat building activities when HM Director of Athletics, Health and Physical Education Robert Annunziata originated a plan that enabled JV and Varsity Lions team members to participate in community service, which their practice and game schedules often precluded. Coach Annunziata saw in Habitat work an opportunity for athletes to pursue physical exercise and team-building experiences together, while contributing to the community outside of HM, and brought the idea to Horace Mann Head of School Dr. Tom Kelly. "We began working on this idea about five years ago with Habit for Humanity of Westchester. We are now able to build Habitat into the work ethic of our teams and our school. HM has the first high school athletic program committed to building complete Habitat homes." HM athletes are accompanied to their builds by their coaches. Upper Division science teachers Dr. Christine Leo and Michelle Lee were Habitat Club advisors, while UD and Middle Division Lab Technician Rudy Reiblein builds regularly with the Habitat Club. Assistant Director of Athletics, Health and Physical Education Amy Mojica coordinates Athletic Department builds. HM is committed to continuing its affiliation with Habitat for Humanity, Dr. Kelly assures, and will begin work on a third house in the coming school year. In another exciting development Habitat of Westchester is considering using structural improvements to its homebuilding model proposed by HM's recent Habitat Club president Ahmet (Ike) Kilinc '16. Kilinc, a four-year member of the school's Habitat Club who also participated in builds as a member of the Lions Varsity tennis team, studied the walls and windows that Habitat homes in Yonkers are using and devised a more energy-efficient design, able to save Habitat homeowners about $600 annually in energy costs. Kilinc pursued this project at the end of his junior year and through Independent Study his senior year, doing research with members of the Engineering Department at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA, where he will enroll to study civil/mechanical engineering in fall 2016. Horace Mann Magazine Summer 2016 31

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