LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Annette Kaufman, Andy Lauber, and Stacey
Zrihen, of i-Shine, upon the occasion of their designation as 2013
People of the Year by the NASSAU HERALD, on December 26, 2013

WHEREAS, Individuals who give of their time and energies and serve the
best interests of their communities are an asset beyond remuneration and
cannot be sufficiently extolled; and
WHEREAS, Annette Kaufman, Andy Lauber, and Stacey Zrihen have given
not only of their time and energies but also of their competence, intel-
ligence and leadership and consequently have been designated for special
honor; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Annette Kauf-
man, Andy Lauber, and Stacey Zrihen, of i-Shine, upon the occasion of
their designation as 2013 People of the Year by the NASSAU HERALD, on
December 26, 2013; and
WHEREAS, Annette Kaufman, Andy Lauber, and Stacey Zrihen brighten the
lives of families dealing with cancer through their work with i-Shine, a
Nassau County program that provides fun activities, homework assistance,
and support for children in kindergarten through eighth grade who have
sibling or parent with a terminal illness; and
WHEREAS, The idea for i-Shine emerged in 2006, when Annette Kaufman,
an occupational therapist from Woodmere, New York, who has treated chil-
dren with cancer for more than 20 years, saw that the siblings of the
terminally ill children she worked with were burdened by schoolwork, and
had parents that were too busy with doctors' appointments and running
daily errands to keep their households afloat; she eventually met Stacey
Zrihen, of Lawrence, New York, a marketing professional who was looking
for volunteer opportunities that would allow her to use her particular
skills and gifts; and
WHEREAS, i-Shine was created in 2007 after Annette Kaufman, Stacey
Zrihen, and a third co-founder connected with Woodmere resident Andy
Lauber, a social worker with Chai Lifeline, a Manhattan-based organiza-
tion that offers family-centered programs, activities and services for
seriously ill children and their families; and
WHEREAS, i-Shine clearly filled a pressing need in the community; when
it was first established, eight students signed up to attend the program
at the Lower School; the number has since grown to nearly 40, and the
students are from the Lawrence School District and neighboring yeshivas
such as the Hebrew Academy of Long Beach, the Torah Academy for Girls in
Far Rockaway and the Woodmere-based Yeshiva of South Shore, among
others; and
WHEREAS, High school and college students are paired with a child to
help him or her with homework, and together they take part in activities
such as cooking, arts and crafts and sports; adult volunteers drive
students to and from the school, supervise their activities and help
serve dinner; and
WHEREAS, Beyond activities and homework assistance, the i-Shine
program offers much needed stability, relaxation, and love to its
participants, whose lives are often turned upside-down when a family
member is diagnosed with cancer; and
WHEREAS, Programs such as i-Shine reflect the values of compassion,
selflessness, and generosity that characterize what is best in communi-
ties across the great State of New York; Annette Kaufman, Andy Lauber
and Stacey Zrihen are to be commended for creating and maintaining such
an invaluable community resource; and

WHEREAS, Throughout the entire period of their community service, a
period of constructive involvement, Annette Kaufman, Andy Lauber and
Stacey Zrihen have stood constant in dignity, good grace and humor; and
WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by individuals
for the benefit of others which Annette Kaufman, Andy Lauber and Stacey
Zrihen have displayed throughout their lives; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Annette Kaufman, Andy Lauber and Stacey Zrihen, of i-Shine, upon
the occasion of their designation as 2013 People of the Year by the
NASSAU HERALD; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Annette Kaufman, Andy Lauber and Stacey Zrihen.