The CHDA Inc’s Teen Crew from North Haven High, the schools Future Nurses Club and North Branford High, work diligently throughout the year promoting CHD Awareness, fundraising, and providing children's activities/childcare at support group meetings and events allowing families to attend. They also volunteer to work at all of our sponsored events including, A Day For Hearts: Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day The Teen Crew aside from Matt and Marc, are all heart healthy. They are all friends that became involved because two of their best friends are affected by CHD. Together, they volunteer many hours not only fundraising and providing childcare, they also educate others about CHD…. The CHDA, Inc. is so very grateful to each and every teen volunteer for all they do… An excerpt from a donation request: (President of the T.C.) “As a member of the Teen Crew for the Congenital Heart Defect Awareness, Inc, I would appreciate a few minutes of your time to read this about the situations we face and hopefully your help. The Teen Crew is working with the founding organization to raise funds and awareness for CHD. We too, are affected by CHD and the problems associated with it. We are willing to help and do strictly volunteer work and knowing we are helping others is more than enough. We take great pride in what we do and our only goal is to educate others concerning CHD and raising Awareness.” Andrew Klotsche Photographer I will be graduating from NHHS this year. I enlisted in the U. S. Navy as a medic and will be leaving for boot camp in September. In my spare time I like hanging out with my friends and going to local shows. I enjoy photography and am the photographer for CHDA Inc. Volunteering on the Teen Crew for CHDA, Inc. can be fun along with a lot of work. It’s great that friends support one another and reach out to help others to. Annamarie Wisneski President; Teen Crew Email Me! Hi, my name is Annamarie. I'm a senior at North Haven High. I am also president of the Teen Crew for CHDA, Inc as well as president of the Future Nurses Club at my school. Between the two, I have done many things to help benefit others and spread awareness. I am also interested in becoming a nurse, specializing in pediatric cardiology. When I'm not volunteering my time I enjoy spending time with my friends and going to local shows. I also enjoy art and photography as well as music. One of my biggest goals is to leave an impact on the world and change someone’s life. Katie Rowe I am 17 and a senior at North Haven High School. This spring I will also be graduating from the Educational Center for the Arts (ECA), a half-day interdistrict magnet school where I have been a student in the Creative Writing department for four years. I am a member of NHH School’s Future Problem Solving (FPS) program, and this fall competed in the senior girl’s traditional Powder Puff football game. I am looking forward to participating in the senior class’s musical, "Grease" this winter. In my free time, I enjoy dancing at Wendy’s School of Dance, where I have been studying dance for thirteen years and help teach classes. I also love baking, reading, walking my dog, and hanging out with friends. I have been helping spread Congenital Heart Defect (CHD) awareness for three years, participating in bake sales and walk-a-thon’s and looking after kids with CHD. I believe that it is important for people to know that not every baby is born healthy–that, while we may be fine, others are struggling–and we need to help each other out. Marc Espowood Teen Crew Community Relations Email Me! Hey. I'm Marc, and I work as part of the CHDA group. I volunteer for many reasons, but most significantly, I've dealt with CHDA personally so I understand how important of a need there is for people who volunteer their own time for the cause. Many friends have helped out in some way or another too, making work that much more enjoyable. Other than just being your usual high-school student, I also enjoy playing guitar and having a good time with my friends outside of school Matt Connors I am Matt Connors, 17 years old and graduating from NHHS this year. Growing up I was always the outgoing kind, I was a big fan of anything that could keep my attention for a short period of time. I was always a big fan of movies, I'm actually quite the movie buff as some would say. I own over 300 movies on DVD as of now. And as of a few years ago, I'm turning into quite the music buff too. Basically I'm involved in the wonderful group for C.H.D because when I entered high school I met my now best friend, Matthew Imperati. And seeing as how he went through several open heart surgeries as a child, I was compelled to be a part of a group that tries to help those in need who have to suffer from Congenital Heart Defects. It's really pretty refreshing to have a friend like him, who I actually have a lot in common with. I wouldn't want anyone to miss out, on having a friend like him. That's why it's great he's still around. Thanks, Yale! So being a part of this group is a big plus for me, and it just feels really good to help out when needed. Matt Imperati Teen Crew Support and Advocacy Email Me! I am 18 years old and a senior at NHHS this year. I plan on taking computer-imaging classes while majoring in pre-law for college. I enjoy volunteering at all the CHD events CHDA, Inc hosts. When I'm not volunteering, I am usually found taping and editing music videos and hanging with my friends. I also enjoy art and music. I also play the guitar, my favorite being my IBANEZ. Like Marc, I am a CHD’er. I was diagnosed at nine days old and have had multiple surgeries to correct my defects. I am in charge of Support and Advocacy. I provide support online and offline to any kid or teen that might want to chat about their CHD or just chat. Lauren DiNorscia Teen Crew Vice-President Email Me! Hi my name is Lauren and I am 17 years old. I love doing community service, singing, acting, and dancing. I've been a drama geek for a couple of years now at my high school and its the after school activity that takes up most of my life. I have been part of the CHD teen crew for almost a year now, and I love to feel like I can make a difference in other peoples lives. As the Vice President, I help to organize events and help to come up with new fundraiser ideas. All of the participants in the teen crew are equally dedicated to the cause and I am very proud of our accomplishments thus far, thanks to our Adult groups who have supervised us and gave us a helping hand with all of our activities. Teresa Tursi Teen Crew Secretary Email Me! Hi, my name is Teresa. I'm a 17 year old senior at North Haven High. Along with being the secretary for the Teen Crew, I have been on the NHHS rifle team for the past four years. I'm on the outdoor track team and I have attended the Educational Center for the Arts for the past two years. This fall I participated in the senior girls Powder Puff football game and I am also participating in the senior class play "Grease". In my free time I enjoy reading, being outside, playing all kinds of sports, and volunteering at St. Mary's evening soup kitchen, and at Camp Hazen YMCA where I will be working this summer. Up until about three years ago, I was uneducated about CHD. Since then i have worked at bake sales, helped out at CHD day last year, and am looking forward to this years "Walk to the Beat for CHD". People who aren't aware, take their health for granted not knowing that they too my have an amazing person come into their life diagnosed with CHD.