Plainview Teens Use Bar Mitzvahs For Charity Project

PLAINVIEW, NY — A group of teenagers are having their Bar Mitzvahs. But more than getting money from a relative, they are collectively raising money for children.

The 11 friends from Plainview-Old Bethpage organized a group mitzvah project to raise money for Cohen's Children's Hospital through The Morgan Foundation.

They held a charity soccer game last weekend and raised more than $5,300.

Tyler Walowitz is one of the participants.

"I went to a charity walk." It was at the event he hear the Morgan Foundation's Brandt Morgan speak. "And it touched my heart."

Morgan, a Jericho High School quarterback who battled cancer, received treatments this year at Cohen's Children's Hospital.

Walowitz, who was a patient at Cohen's, felt a connection with Morgan.

"I feel as if I'm giving the ability to do what they love back to [them]," Walowitz said.

Walowitz's dad Neil said the kids each gave input for the charity.

"They kind of presented to each other and voted on it," he said. "They all agreed that the Morgan Foundation seems like a good place to donate the money."

Neil Walowitz is proud of his son and the other boys for this selfless act.

"This is what the spirit of the Mitzvah Project is all about," Walowitz said. "They're taking ownership of this event, which is really important to us as parents."