Livingston's Top Feel Good Stories of 2012

With all the doom and gloom that is sometimes reported in the news, Livingston Patch thought it was important to highlight the good that is in the community. 

Here's a look at the top feel good stories of 2012.

Livingston Raises $400K For Cerebral Palsy Group Home

Livingston presented two checks, for $200,000 each, to Cerebral Palsy of North Jersey.  The money raised is for the organization to build group homes in Livingston for residents affected by the disease.

"Team Anthony" Helps Livingston Boy Fight Leukemia

When most people think of teams, games or sports come to mind. But in Livingston, “Team Anthony” is a group of children, teachers and adults rallying behind Anthony Vallejo, 12, who is battling acute lymphocytic leukemia.

Livingston Child Donates Doll To Hospital

When Alexis Rubenstein, 5, of Livingston, visited Saint Barnabas Medical Center last month with her mother and twin brother, she donated a doll to Melissa Cook and Danielle Martello, two child-life specialists from the hospital’s Child Life Department.  Alexis received Maya, an Itty Bitty Baby American Girl doll last year while she was a patient at the hospital through the generosity of the Children’s Hospital Association.

Synchroettes Dazzle Crowd at Fundraiser

The Synchroettes put on an exhibition to remember on Tuesday for a good cause. The Essex County Skating Club’s synchronized ice skating team presented a show at the Richard J. Codey Arena to help raise donations for Toys for Tots.

Young Organ Donor to be Remembered on Rose Parade Float

The legacy of Jason Jiaa will live on through others, his parents said. That is why they decided to donate the 11-year old's organs after Jason died of an allergic reaction in 2008.

Livingston Teams With MADD to Fight Drunk Driving

Livingston joined forces with Mother's Against Drunk Driving on Wednesday to present an informative campaign on drinking and driving.  Sitting at the Livingston Public Library, Delores Keller of the Livingston Health Department and Livingston Police Officer Joy Klapal handed out red ribbons to residents as they explained the danger of drunk driving.

Resident Hopes Stuff the Bus Helps Childhood Home

Chris Bickel has never forgotten the help he received from his hometown.  The Ventnor, NJ native, who has since relocated to Livingston, helped spearhead the latest Stuff the Bus, which collected healthy, unexpired, non-perishables, personal hygiene items and cleaning supplies for the residents in Ventnor, who were crippled by last month’s storm.

A Food Drive With a Creative Twist

Residents may have noticed an odd sight when they visited the Livingston Mall this weekend.  There are five sculptures located at various points on the upper level.  The catch is that the sculptures are made entirely of cans of food.

Livingston Friends Raise Money For Hearing Loss

Sam Braverman and Alexa Kay are two friends who share a lot in common.  Both girls are six-years-old, with two younger sisters each and entering first grade.  But perhaps their biggest bond is that both girls suffer from hearing loss and wear hearing aids.

Middle Schooler Raises Money to Combat Heart Disease

Heritage Middle School student Gayle Edelstein, 13, is familiar with the turmoil caused by heart disease.  In the span of a year, two people close to her were affected by the disease, which is the leading cause of death in America.

Livingston Volunteers Help Keep Prospect Park Clean

As part of the Livingston Health Department’s Clean Community Grant project, the Livingston Environmental Commission met up to conduct a clean up of debris and garbage at Prospect Park. Seven Livingston residents donned gloves and walked through the path with recyclable trash bags, picking up any debris they could find in the woods. This was the first park clean up conducted by the commission as part of this grant.

Livingston Residents Among the Most Charitable in NJ

Livingston residents donate almost 3.6% of their annual income, according to a new study released by The Chronicle of Philanthropy.  Livingston residents ranked 187 out of 28,725 New Jersey towns for contributions, donating $53.3 million in 2008 with an average family contribution of $4,137.

Livingston Residents Gear Up for Cycle for Survival

Livingston residents are putting their best legs forward.  That's when the Livingston Township Senior and Community Center will become home to Cycle for Survival, an annual fundraiser that supports research for rare cancers at  Memorial Sloan-Kettering in New York City.

Saint Barnabas Medical Center “Goes Red” In Support of Women’s Heart Health

Saint Barnabas Medical Center joined the American Heart Association’s (AHA) fight against heart disease Friday by holding "National Wear Red Day." Physicians, staff and volunteers wore red to work to help raise women’s awareness of cardiovascular disease, which, while preventable, is still the number one killer of women.

Livingston Gazebo Turns Blue for Autism Awareness

Cloudy skies and light rain didn't deter dozens of people from showing up at the Livingston gazebo in a show of support for Autism awareness.  The gazebo was covered in blue lights Monday and surrounded by snack and information stands covered with blue tableclothes.

George Press Jewelers' Ferrari Themed Fundraiser a Success

On June 9, George Press Jewelers held their annual Ferrari fundraising event to benefit the Parkinson’s 2012 Unity Walk.  Customers came to the store to enjoy hors d’oeuvres and refreshments as they checked out a collection of luxury Ferrari vehicles that were on display.