'Special Experience': Why NYC Boy Visits Wantagh Family Each Year

WANTAGH, NY — A Wantagh mother-of-two has made her childhood dream a reality by opening her heart — and her family's home — to an 11-year-old Queens boy.

Marina Goldmacher-Severinovsky grew up in New York City and knew about the not-for-profit agency known as The Fresh Air Fund. Since 1877 the agency has provided free summer experiences to more than 1.8 million New York City kids from low-income families. The goal is to help the youths learn new skills, develop and grow as people.

"I remembered the program from when I was a kid and I always said to myself that when I grew up and had my own family, that The Fresh Air Fund was a program I wanted to be a part of," Goldmacher-Severinovsky said.

Each summer, thousands of children visit volunteer host families along the East Coast and Southern Canada, including the home of parents Michael and Marina Goldmacher-Severinovsky. For the last three summers the family has taken in Adrian as part of the organization's Friendly Towns Program, and the family looks forward to next summer too.

During his stays, Adrian spends time with the family, including the couples' two children, Ariel, 4, and Mason, 8. The group lounges in the backyard, hit the beach and cool off at the local pool. The Goldmacher-Severinovskys also take Adrian with them on new experiences, such as to the Medieval Times festival in New Jersey.

"Whenever he’s with us, we love just being able to do stuff with him — he’s part of the family," Marina Goldmacher-Severinovsky said.

She called her relationship with the boy "fun, real, and loving." At the end of their first summer together, she recalled fondly how he told he loved her.

"When you care about a child, they can tell that you care about them, and so they’ll feel love right away, and we feel the same thing for him," she said.

Marina Goldmacher-Severinovsky encouraged other Wantagh families to host a child, too, calling it "a special experience."

Children are deemed eligible to participate in the free programs based on financial need. They are registered by social service and community groups in all five boroughs. Boys and girls in the program visit volunteer host families for up to two weeks in rural, suburban and small town

communities where they can partake in activities such as learning to swim, picking berries, building sandcastles, riding bikes and stargazing. Many are invited back to stay
with the same host family for multiple years and form long-lasting relationships.

Those interested in learning more about becoming a host family in Nassau County can call Jennifer Debler at 516-581-3456 or visit FreshAir.org.