A. Harelick

Alex Harelick is a 15 year old student from White Plains, NY and 10th grade student at White Plains High School.  Alex began thinking about his Bar Mitzvah project well in advance of his actual celebration date.  When he was 11 years old he began swimming with to raise funds and awareness for Multiple Sclerosis through sponsored swims in the Hudson River from the MS Society.  After four years of participating in this program, the MS Society discontinued this program.  Alex who was inspired by his grandmother who passed away from cancer shortly after his Bar Mitzvah took it upon himself to join Swim Across America, an organization that organizes swims to raise money for cancer research.  Alex continues to swim for Swim Across America on a regular basis.  To date, he has raised $25,000 for cancer and Multiple Sclerosis research.  Alex has also created a website: www.alexswims.com to keep others apprised of his efforts and to allow people to make donations to these worthy causes.  Areyvut was proud to announce Alex as the 3rd Place Winner in the 2009 Bnai Mitzvah Video Essay Contest.  Click here to view his winning essay.