Ho-Ho-Kus April 18, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 15 The Ho-Ho-Kus Girl Scouts will hold a town-wide 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouting and Earth Day Celebration on Sunday, April 22 from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at the Community Church of Ho-Ho-Kus. Borough Girl Scouts and their leaders will be a part of a global, hands-on experience and host global activist Rachael Paulson of Sparta, founder of the HOW Global initiative, and author of children’s books about environmental topics. Paulson has devoted her life to improving the lives of Anniversary celebration to include Rachael Paulson others, especially children, through education and global leadership. In addition to being a published author, she is a teacher, speaker, and ambassador for the United Nations dedicated to achieving the global Millennium Goals of 2015. Paulson, who was living a “typical” life in New Jersey, transitioned into a woman capable of extraordinary things. She began her global initiative to help people in areas that do not have safe drinking water. ECLC of New Jersey’s fundraiser breaks record A record 360 guests enjoyed appetizers, dinner, a fundraiser, and a four-hour open bar at a recent fundraiser organized by the staff and parents of ECLC of New Jersey’s Ho-Ho-Kus campus. In just four years, the Ho-HoKus dinner has nearly doubled in size. This year’s fundraiser also broke previous records. In total, the event for the special-needs school brought in nearly $17,000 to support the ECLC Foundation, which funds extras, including after school, respite (overnights), alumni programs, and ECLC’s adult services and programs. The event co-chairs, Social Worker Cheryl Avino and Assistant Principal Cynthia D’Amico, worked with their volunteer committee to create this wonderfully successful event. ECLC thanks the staff of The Tides in North Haledon, which helped provide a memorable evening for all. This special guest will share her experiences with the Girl Scouts, describing the walk she took from a rural school village in Africa to its water source and back, shocking her into giving voice to children who are drinking from mudholes. Paulson will also share stories about her journey to parts of the United States, Haiti, and South Africa, where she uses funds raised by her books to bring clean water and filters called “Lifestraws” to children who must walk miles for water. Like the villagers who have to walk miles to get fresh water, the Ho-Ho-Kus Girl Scouts will carry buckets of water across the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook Bridge as a ceremonial “bridging” to celebrate 100 years of Girl Scouting. The girls will join together in celebration of Girl Scouts and Earth Day by working together on various projects at the event. The girls will also add to Paulson’s collection of Earth Murals. The Bridging the World with Water themed-mural created by 13 eighth grade students at Ho-Ho-Kus Public School will be displayed at the event. Girl Scouts who attend the event will trace their handprints on the mural that will be given to one of the orphan village’s schools. For information about this event, and to purchase “Johnny’s Recycling Adventure,” contact Tamra Coleman at (201) 444-5620. Paulson will sign her book for the Girl Scouts. ECLC Board Member Susan Young of Saddle River and Executive Director Bruce Litinger of Short Hills were grateful for the show of support. (Photo courtesy of Amalia Duarte.)