Helping Hands Student Bios

 Anthony Caramella - Co President and Founder 

Anthony Caramella, also  most know me as Mella, is a first semester sophomore here at Hofstra University, from Oswego, NY. Along with Katie Friedman, Anthony, Co-founded and  is the Co-President of Helping Hands. In the winter of last year Katie and Anthony founded Helping Hands with the intention of creating an outlet for students to give back to those in need as well as meet new people and form new friendships. In addition to Helping Hands, 

Anthony is an active member in Hofstra's Ski/Snowboard Club, work in the Event Management office, and train MMA at one of the local gyms. He also had  participated in many community service events in the past such as, coaching youth soccer teams, volunteering as Welcome Week leader, volunteering in a fun filled day for children with down syndrome known as the Buddy Walk, and many others. Helping Hands has been a tremendous success so far and shows no signs of slowing in down. If you are at all interested in getting involved on campus, participating in community service, or just meeting some new fun people please free to contact them at any time.

  Katie J. Friedman - Co President and Founder

Katie Jaclyn Friedman is currently a marketing major in her sophomore year. Katie is from Potomac, Maryland and is extremely enthusiasticto be serving as Co-President of Helping Hands this fall.  Katie's initial involvement with Helping Hands began in the spring of her freshman year. At her high school in Maryland, Katie participated in a lot of community service and even created the Community Service Club, where students who shared a passion for helping others were able to meet. She learned leadership skills through USY (United Synagogue Youth), where she served as President, and through a company she founded, LIVEJEWISH. 

LIVEJEWISH is a bracelet company, much like the Lance Armstrong LIVESTRONG campaign, whose goal is to promote Holocaust awareness.  A major portion of all sales were donated to the United States Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C.  Last year, Katie assisted Helping Hands to raise over three thousands dollars for the American Cancer Society. Along with community service, Katie was a Wachs SEI intern.  As an intern, she was responsible for planning, organizing and implementing activities to bring Jewish students together. This year, Katie was appointed Co-Chairman for the Relay For Life on Hofstra's campus, and Co- President of Hofstra Hillel. When Katie isn't busy with her extracurricular, you can always find her around campus hanging out with her amazing friends! A quote that Katie tries to live by is, "Life is not about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself."

Kara McGrath - Treasurer  

Kara McGrath is nineteen and has two younger sisters, both of who are also very involved in community service. Kara is a Sophomore studying Print Journalism with a double minor in Spanish and Drama at Hofstra. She has been doing volunteer work for basically my entire life through various youth and school groups.

Kara was a member of the UCC Youth Group in Keene, NH for seven years and went on at least one mission trip a year to places like Puerto Rico, Washington DC, New York City, and Richmond, VA to do things such as build houses, paint schools, work in soup kitchens, and volunteer in daycares for abused children. Kara is very excited to be involved with this group and think it will provide an excellent opportunity for Hofstra students to create a better relationship with the surrounding community and she really hoping to turn this into a successful and on-going club.

  Laura Finkelstein - Secretary

Laura Finkelstein is a sophomore at Hofstra University. She is currently undecided with a focus on theatre and film. Laura loves movies more than anything and challenges anyone to a round of the movie game. She hails from Cherry Hill, New Jersey back to her family's roots on Long Island.

Laura is very involved with the Jewish community everywhere she goes. She is not only co-president of Hillel but also runs an afterschool program at a local synagogue and still teaches holidays services at her synagogue back home. She could not be more excited to be part of the process of spreading the Hillel fun all across campus and beyond.

Janelle Guenette - Public Relations  

Janelle Guenette is a sophomore at Hofstra University where she serves as the Public Relations Specialist on the Helping Hands board. She is a staff member of WRHU, the radio station here at Hofstra and can be heard doing The Jazz Café, Alternative Nation, and Hofstra's Morning Wake-up Call. She is also involved with the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) organizing events on and off campus.

Janelle has held several state and regional titles including Miss Massachusetts National Teenager where she placed as 2^nd runner up in the nation, as well as Junior Miss New England. Through pageants, she has volunteered with many different non-profit organizations and is eager to continue volunteering with Helping Hands. Miss Guenette is a Communications major with the intent on becoming a successful Broadcast Journalist or Public Relations Specialist.

Brian Kahn - Logistics

Brian Kahan is currently an accounting major in his sophomore year. He is from Voorhees New Jersey, which is a few minutes outside of Philadelphia.  Brian's job in the Helping Hands program is to do the marketing and logistics of the club. He makes sure everyone is on track and we have everything we need when we have our events.

 When Brian isn't busy with Helping Hands he likes to play lacrosse, hang out with his friends and watch his favorite football team the PHILADELPHIA EAGLES!!!!!

Rachel Lipkin - Logistics 

 Rachel Lipkin is a born and raised Jersey girl that is now in her sophomore year at Hofstra. She is an English Literature major and a Photography minor. Rachel spends most of her time writing, reading, taking photos, traveling and knitting when she isn't in class or working at the Axinn Library. She also writes for the literary magazine, Font, and is very involved with Hofstra Hillel.

Since she was very young Rachel has been participating in a varied amount of community service and volunteer projects, such as, soup kitchens, hospitals, nursing homes, raising money for the AIDS WALK in New York, and homeless shelters.

Joining Helping Hands just last semester Rachel has realized what an important club this is on campus. Helping others and giving time to help is something she believes in greatly. That is why Helping Hands is such an important club to Rachel, because she believes that by simply volunteering you can help the greater community and make a difference.

  Mike Chaplin - Advertising

Mike Chaplin is currently a sophomore at Hofstra University and is majoring in public relations (although he may be switching to computer science in the near future). Mike is an RA in Bill of Rights, and he also is involved with Hofstra Lion's Den association (sort of an informal group to spread enthusiasm at athletic events).

In Mike's spare time he is a drummer and an avid movie watcher, thanks to his old roommate from last year. At Helping Hands, Mike is in charge of advertising, meaning he design the logo and the flyers for the upcoming events. Helping Hands is a great group of people who love to help and get involved with the community, which is why Mike loves being a part of it!