October 16, 2019 at 2:15 p.m.
THE ADIRONDACK LILY TAKES OVER
CBA teen, motivated by resident, raises nearly $50,000 for St. Margaret’s Center
THE ADIRONDACK LILY TAKES OVER
Well, most teenagers don’t do that last one.
Donovan, a sophomore at Christian Brothers Academy, has raised almost $50,000 for St. Margaret’s Center, an Albany facility for medically fragile infants, children and young adults, tripling the amount of his original goal of $16,000. The announcement was made at St. Margaret’s facility on Monday, Oct. 14.
“It was pretty big,” said Donovan. “I’m happy that we got this ball rolling and now in the future, kids can still get what they need.” What started as a fundraiser to help one teen in the facility has blossomed into an opportunity to fund assistive technology and other resources for multiple residents of the St. Margaret’s community.
“Technology — and I can’t stress this enough — technology has been an equalizer between the children and young adults who reside at St. Margaret’s,” said Gregory J. Sorrentino, president and CEO of St. Margaret’s Center. “It’s allowed them to do more and enhance their lives in the same way that technology has transformed all of our lives on a day-to-day basis.”
For those who know Donovan, putting something like this together isn’t out of character. At the press event, Donovan could be seen greeting St. Margaret’s residents as they arrived and helping pick up any fallen toys that were brought in. He’s also quick to crack a joke. In the middle of his speech, Donovan paused, folded up his notes and breezily tossed them over his shoulder. The room erupted with laughs.
“Gabe is truly wise beyond his years,” Sorrentino said.
The fundraiser all began back in the spring after Donovan’s mom, Maureen O’Brien, took a tour of St. Margaret’s for her job. That’s where she met Lily, a 14-year-old resident who was in need of assistance technology to help better her communication and finish high school, a goal she’s always had. Lily was in a car accident at the age of 5 that left her unable to breathe on her own or move much at all and the eye-tracking device she would need would cost $16,000.
During the tour, O’Brien learned that Lily attended the same summer camp that Donovan does: Double H Ranch. The camp, which has always held a special place in Donovan’s heart, is offered specifically for children and teens facing serious or life-threatening illnesses.
At 6 months old, Donovan was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis, a rare neurological disorder that causes the growth of tumors along nerves in the skin, brain and other parts of the body. In a previous interview with The Evangelist, Donovan said he never wanted to be viewed as a “sick kid,” noting that he’s “not different, I just have different genes.” (Read the previous story at The Evangelist’s website:https://evangelist.org/Content/Features/Catholic-schools/Article/Gabe-s-life-a-lot-more-than-neurofibromatosis/16/67/26642)
After the tour, O’Brien told her son about her encounter with Lily and her need for this device. He was disheartened. As a teen who also utilizes the Center for Disability Services, Donovan was upset to see that other families couldn’t get the services they needed because of cost.
“We heard that Lily couldn’t get the device she needed and (couldn’t) to do things that she needed to do,” said Donovan. “I didn’t like that, so I decided instead of pouting about it to take matters into my own hands.”
Donovan created a floral design in chalk pastel, calling it the Adirondack Lily; around the design are the words, “Although I cannot write, I still have a story to tell.” The design was printed on T-shirts and tote bags through Spectrum Designs, a social enterprise group in Port Washington, N.Y., that employs young adults with autism.
Donovan began promoting the design through social media where the fundraiser started gaining traction. Things blew up from there.
The Dake Foundation for Children, a non-profit that provides grants for children with disabilities under 21, pledged $8,000 to Donovan’s fundraiser: “We knew this was a mission we really wanted to get behind,” said Matt Stevens, executive director for the Dake Foundation. “The need for equipment in order to communicate is something we see on a regular basis.”
Madison VanDenberg, a 17-year-old from Cohoes who made it to the “American Idol” finals last season, saw the fundraiser and promoted it on her Instagram page, which has close to 200,000 followers. “It all came together in the end,” said Donovan. “Madison VanDenberg was the one who gave the final push.”
The fundraiser was picked up by politicians, musicians, local news stations and across a platform of social media sites. Even Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger heard about it and had to get a T-shirt, too!
“I do like being recognized, but it’s not about me,” Donovan said. “It’s about Lily and all the kids at St. Margaret’s.”
To purchase a T-shirt, tote bag or learn more about the fundraiser, visit Spectrum Design’s website at https://www.spectrumdesigns.org/shop/jva63i0azhx2sfwi4wbs2xsnnf4dny, or visit St. Margaret’s website at https://
www.cfdsny.org/st-margarets-center.
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