I am Luke Fischetti, a junior at Mepham high school in Bellmore, NY, and a former ambassador and current alumni of the HLF. Due to my incredible experience as an HLFYA, I was inspired to do even more in my community and continue my charitable work.
The Polar Express is an event run by the local Lions Club chapter. This is an event that I have fundraised for and been part of every Christmas season for the past 4 years. Over 300 families from surrounding areas, school districts, and homeless shelters attend the Polar Express event to receive brand new Christmas gifts for the children. Families receive clothing, coats, winter gear, and an abundance of new toys of their choosing. Using my sports card social media platform, I requested and received donations, and along with my own monetary donation, I bought sports cards to create gift bags, by sport, for the kids. The Sports Card business and giving back to the community are two of my favorite things, so being able to combine them for kids in need, who would really enjoy them, made me extremely happy. Each year, on the day of the event, my favorite part is seeing the kids get excited about their new sports cards.
Although I have been doing charity events ever since I could understand how they work, HLF helped me recognize different ways I could run my own and/or donate to charity events by watching my fellow ambassadors. Beyond the Polar Express, I am currently raising money for the St. Baldricks Foundation, which I will shave my head for in March. I look forward to continuing my work with the HLF to continue making an impact on children in need.
Written by HLFYA Alumni Luke Fischetti
