Ave Maria Catholic Academy students raised hundreds of dollars for the families of Detectives Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu. Forum Photos by Michael V. Cusenza
It seems that New Yorkers of all ages have answered the call.
Students from every class at Ave Maria Catholic Academy in Howard Beach this week donated money to the fund organized by the New York Daily News for the families of slain NYPD Detectives Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu.
The 101st Street school raised nearly $600 and sent it on Wednesday to Daily News Charities for the Ramos and Liu Families.
“I think it shows a good sense of community and collaboration,” AMCA Principal Marybeth McManus said. “And it’s a good sense of Catholic identity—what are we going to do to help others?”
Amalia Ciccio (l.), of Mrs. Drucker’s pre-k class, and Abigail Edmundson, of Miss Lucie’s kindergarten class, showed their love and appreciation for the NYPD.
Forum Photos by Michael V. Cusenza
Emily Kerins, a 6th grader at AMCA, said last month’s shooting hit home because her father was an NYPD sergeant who retired out of Brooklyn.
“I can’t imagine what those families feel like, losing someone,” the 11-year-old said, adding that she “wasn’t surprised at all” at how AMCA responded.
“Our school does a lot—for the poor, for people with cancer,” Kerins noted. “I respect our school for what we do.”
Robert Mestrandrea, a 7th grader from Ozone Park, has an uncle who is a lieutenant in the Police Department.
“I was very upset by the tragedy,” he said. “But I was very happy that our school is doing things like this, raising money to support these families and charitable organizations.”
By Michael V. Cusenza
