BY DAN NEWMAN
Staff Writer
CHRIS KELLY staff Mia Tomasiello decided to raise money instead of getting presents for her birthday party on Sunday. Through Tuesday, she raised approximately $1,600, which will be donated toward the fight against childhood cancer. HAZLET – In an era when kids want to have the best clothes and sneakers, or the newest cell phone to go along with the latest version of PlayStation, Mia Tomasiello decided to buck the trend by helping others in need.
“I wanted to help raise money for kids with cancer,” Mia said. “My grandma died of cancer and my aunt has it now, and so I want to try to help others fight [the disease].”
Instead of receiving gifts for her recent birthday party, the Hazlet resident wanted go in a different direction. She skipped the customary gift-giving and the like, and instead friends, family members and even strangers donated to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in the Philadelphia area that helps to fight childhood cancer.
On Sunday, Mia had her ninth birthday party at her Courtland Drive home, complete with lemonade at $1 per cup, and a shot at the dunk tank for the same price.
“We probably had about 40 people over here for the party and it was a blast,” Mia’s mother, Toni, said. “The weather was awful on Saturday, but for the party the skies were bright, and it was fabulous. I think Mia was really excited to be able to collect so much money for such a great cause. She’s had good parties in the past, but this one must have been the best. I always want my kids to have great memories from their parties, and this will certainly be one of them.”
Besides Mia, a fourth-grader at Raritan Valley Elementary School, there are Chloe, 6, and Lily, 4.
Toni Tomasiello that she tried to make each birthday a special one for her daughters.
“I think Chloe wants to do something charitable as well for her birthday,” Toni said. “To me, birthdays aren’t always about gifts and presents. It’s a celebration of life and about bringing family and friends together and, thankfully, my daughters understand this.”
By the end of “business” on Sunday (Mia also walked around her neighborhood trying to peddle the sweet stuff), she cleared over $1,600. Toni said there may be more donations coming in by the time the money is sent to the foundation following Mia’s actual birthday.
As for next year’s festivities, Mia says she is thinking about doing a fundraiser again. She realizes this year’s party will be hard to top, but there is one person who is thinking about going all out to try and make this year just a distant memory.
“My dad says he wants to build a dunk tank for next year,” Mia said.
“He was taking a lot of pictures of the tank, and so he may take a shot at it,” Toni said.