February 26, 2010
by Jill Gold
The Irish have considered the shamrock a good-luck symbol since the earliest times. Why not double the luck this year? Purchase a beautiful glittering shamrock at the Quaker Hill Tavern in Chappaqua from now until St. Paddy’s day, March 17, and it will not only bestow luck on the you, but it will raise funds for Friends of Karen, a children’s charity that provides support for families with critically ill children, primarily with cancer.
These simple glittering green shamrock, all hand decorated by volunteers at Friends of Karen, are being sold in three sizes: large, for $10; medium for $5 and $1 for just a little bit of luck. The Quaker Hill Tavern, decked out in these bright green shamrocks, is a reminder of the compassionate community spirit that began in North Salem over 32 years ago when Sheila Petersen began raising money so her neighbor, Karen MacInnes, a young woman who was terminally ill with Lafora’s disease.
Karen’s family could not afford to bring her home from the hospital so she could spend her remaining time at home surrounded by her loving family and friends. A family friend, Sheila Petersen, appealed to the community and raised the necessary funds to arrange for Karen’s care and comfort at home, where Karen lived for another 11 months.
This simple act of kindness, of neighbors helping neighbors, doing whatever they can for children with life-threatening illnesses, is the foundation of Friends of Karen. We are so pleased that the Quaker Hill Tavern is helping bring greater awareness of Friends of Karen to the Chappaqua community and is helping us raise the much-needed funds to support the families of critically ill children. The Quaker Hill Tavern joins a great St. Paddy’s Day tradition of the Blazer Pub in North Salem, which is now in its thirteenth year raising money for Friends of Karen by selling shamrocks and holding an auction on St. Paddy’s Day.”
Join the Quaker Tavern in its neighborly support of Friends of Karen and purchase a little “luck of the Irish.” The Quaker Hill Tavern is located at 61 North Bedford Road in Chappaqua, across the street from the D’Agostino’s shopping center. For more information about Friends of Karen, please visit our website at www.friendsofkaren.org or contact Jill Gold at 914-617-4047.
Jill Gold is Communications Coordinator at Friends of Karen. Friends of Karen, headquartered in Purdys, provides financial assistance, emotional and advocacy support for children with life threatening illnesses and their families. The organization that bears Karen’s name has become a permanent part of the Northern Westchester landscape and in over 30 years has expanded to helping thousands of families in the tri-state area.
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