By Mike Morsch, Regional Editor
By Mike Morsch, Forget the nonsense that’s going on in the rest of the world. This is a story about community. And Cranbury is stepping up in a big way for one of its own., Almost everybody in town knows Amir Moon. He’s worked up and down Main Street at a couple of restaurants, helps at the Cranbury Public Library and shovels snow for those who can’t., Unofficially, he’s been called “the mayor of Cranbury,” and after a summer experience that took him to Peru in 2015 on an educational trip, some have called him “Cranbury’s ambassador.”, Amir didn’t have it easy earlier in his life. Growing up in an urban area, he was exposed to drugs and violence. His grandmother wouldn’t allow him to play outside in that environment and as a result, Amir made few friends. In 2010, in an effort to make a better life, his grandmother moved Amir and his sister to Cranbury. But shortly after the move, Amir’s father died., Despite those challenges, Amir endeared himself to teachers and staff at Cranbury School with his sunny disposition and positive approach to life when he started there as a fifth grader., “I recall seeing Amir graduate from eighth grade and it was a proud moment for him,” said Karen Callahan, a member of the Cranbury School board of education. “It left a lasting impression on me. It’s been nice to see him grow up and become a mature, upbeat, hardworking young man.”, Now a senior at Princeton High School, Amir is preparing for the next stage of his life, which he hopes will include going to college. But the cost of college may be beyond Amir’s reach., That just wasn’t acceptable to Callahan and her friend, neighbor and fellow Cranbury resident, Michelle Greene., “Michelle and I had been speaking with Amir about his plans for college, and he was also getting advice from the school guidance office,” said Callahan. “But it became apparent that it might be something he wouldn’t be able to do because college is so expensive. It was sad that it might not be a possibility., Once Amir got accepted at Cabrini University in Radnor, Pennsylvania, suburban Philadelphia, Callahan and Greene set the wheels in motion to assure that he got there next fall., They started a GoFundMe page on April 26 called “It Takes A Village . . . Help Amir Moon.”, It’s not the first time that the community has used a GoFundMe effort to help Amir. The trip to Peru in 2015 was also made possible by a GoFundMe campaign supported by the community., Amir has received both merit and grant funds to attend Cabrini University but he will still incur nearly $18,000 in out-of-pocket expenses, according to the GoFundMe page. He secured a student loan for $9,500, leaving a balance of just more that $8,000 that he needs to come up with to meet the tuition. In addition, Amir will have additional expenses that all college students have, like books and dorm supplies., As of May 10, the GoFundMe account had raised $xx,xxx., “Words cannot express how I felt when I saw the fund,” said Amir. “I was so surprised and had no idea of the outcome. At first, I was like, ‘Why me?’ But now I’m looking back and saying if you’re a good person, good things will come your way.”, The response has indeed been overwhelming, Callahan said., “We exceeded the goal within 24 hours,” she said. “It’s unbelievable. We knew people would give, but we never thought it would be to this extent. People aren’t just talking the talk, they’re walking the walk. What better way to be an example to your own kids about doing the right thing? We are so proud and excited for Amir that he’ll have the opportunity to attend college.”, “I was overwhelmed by everyone’s generosity, but to be honest, I wasn’t surprised,” said Greene, who has a daughter the same age as Amir and first met the young man over the holidays several years ago when he organized a caroling event on the spot to go door-to-door and raise money to benefit victims of Superstorm Sandy., “It’s such a great community, a community that embraces everyone and tried to help people,” said Greene. “Everyone knows Amir, likes him and respects him and we’re all rooting for him.”, Amir plans to study elementary education at Cabrini and to be active in community service while in college and learning to be independent and on his own., And he isn’t forgetting about the community that has supported him. He plans to some day give something back., “Hopefully I will become a teacher and come back to Cranbury to teach at Cranbury School,” he said. “To the community, I would like to thank you so much for supporting everything I do. I really appreciate it. God bless you all.”
