Kerrianne Orloff
Myself Third Spirit of New York 2005 Scholarship Winner
Leon M. Goldstein High School
Kingsborough Community College
"Kerrianne is a highly motivated young lady. She is extremely conscientious and succeeds academically. She tirelessly gives herself to community causes and events. In addition, she is involved in extracurricular activities at school. Kerrianne takes every assignment very seriously and is not satisfied until she has it completed."
—Eugenia Chiarello, Guidance Counselor
Work, Volunteer, and Extra-Curricular Activities
- Organizer, Rescue Relief Drive for 9/11 Workers
- Captain, High School Swim Team and Soccer Team
- Member, Girl Scouts of America
- Volunteer Docent, New York Aquarium
Excerpts from Kerrianne's Essay
When the twin towers fell, the country was overcome with grief and everybody felt the need to help in any way possible. I know this was an enormous help to those who had lost loved ones. I was fortunate enough not to lose any family in the 9/11 attacks.
However, I lost people I knew, and I was deeply affected by the attacks. My father is a lieutenant in the fire department, Engine 201, and he responded that day along with all his "brothers." My dad lost four men in his firehouse and many other friends—firefighters, police officers, and workers in the World Trade Center. I felt horrible about this and I felt the need to help. I grabbed one of my friends and we co-organized a rescue relief drive. We made fliers and posters, asking people for donations of everything from water, mouthwash, and socks to saline solution, Q-tips, and candy.
The drive was held at two local churches on September 13 and 14. I collected donations at one church and my friend collected at the other. We also solicited donations from local stores and companies. We took all of the donations and separated them into personal "ditty bags" that could fit in the pockets of the fire-coats. Enclosed in each "ditty bag" was a letter to the rescue workers that we had the local elementary school children write. The "ditty bags" meant a lot to the workers who were at ground zero for days at a time without food, changes of clothing, or places to sleep. These exhausted heroes needed to know that people appreciated them. I know the letters from the school children meant so much to all of the men, including my dad who still has some of the letters.
