If you are a skater like me, you probably have a vividly happy memory of the moment you first fell in love with figure skating. That was a great feeling, right? This weekend, you can help hundreds of kids get the chance to experience that same joy.
How? Just come to the second annual Skate-to-Learn exhibition this Sunday, April, 29th at 3 p.m. at Sport-O-Rama in Monsey, NY. This SCNY-sponsored show's proceeds benefit Brooklyn Ice, a program that has provided free figure skating lessons and enrichment classes to children living near Prospect Park in Brooklyn since 2005. Proceeds from the show will also benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of Hackensack and Lodi.
Last year, the show raised over $17,000 for charity. This year's show will feature Russian champion Ksenia Makarova, accomplished pairs teams Gretchen Donlan and Andrew Speroff and Marissa Castelli and Simon Shnapir, and performers from Ice Theater of New York, and many other SCNY skaters.
This week, I had the chance to chat briefly with two of the founders of this very successful show--accomplished skaters Christine Mozer and David Cruikshank. These two teens came up with the idea for the show and fundraiser in 2010, after they heard about Brooklyn Ice needing funds to continue at a new rink. With the help of some dedicated fellow skaters, they put together a show called CitySkate that year, which raised over $15,000, and then in 2011, started the Skate-to-Learn exhibition.
Christine, who represents SCNY, says she's very excited about the show this year, and proud of the SCNY members who have chipped in to help produce it. "In watching the shows from year to year, it is great to see how cast members of previous shows continue to improve and share their love for the sport," she said.
Looking back on the last two years, David (who represents the Hickory Hill FSC) is floored by the success. "We decided to put on a show because we thought we could get our friends to help out by skating in the show and helping with the day-of-show logistics and things like that," he said. "We never imagined the shows would be this successful."
Both Christine and David are heading off to college next year, but they've no doubt that the show will go on and continue to be a great success. Show coordinators are always looking for volunteers to skate or help out backstage, so if you're interested, email skatetolearn2011@gmail.com. If you'd like to attend the show, you can buy tickets at the door or send an email to that address. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for kids and seniors.
If you can't make the show this weekend, but still want to help out, you can send donations to Courtney Taylor c/o Figure Skating Office, Sport-O-Rama, 20 College Road, Monsey, NY 10953.
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