Morristown Students Earn Grants for United Helpers

MORRISTOWN — Thanks to the writings of two students at Morristown Central School, United Helpers has earned back-to-back grants from the Northern New York Community Foundation’s Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge.

Scarlett Ritchie was one of 20 students to earn a $500 grant for their chosen organization during the 2021-2022 academic year. The following year, after changes to the competition made by the Northern New York Community Foundation, Peayton Stark was one of 10 students to earn a $1,000 grant for their selected organization.

Morristown Central School English Teacher Maggie Rollins said she’s been fortunate to have one of her students selected each year they’ve participated in the challenge.

“The pride I feel when my students put their heart into their responses and show their love for their community is unparalleled,” Mrs. Rollins said. “United Helpers has a huge impact in the Morristown community, so it’s no surprise that students are always interested in giving back to that organization.”

“We are especially grateful that the teachers at Morristown Central School have chosen to bring this program alive for their students. It is exactly what we hoped and envisioned when we established our Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge,” said Northern New York Community Foundation Executive Director Rande Richardson. “Their participation very firmly demonstrates their belief in fulfilling their mission and values of collaboration and responsibility to the world around them.”

In addition to employing several people from the Morristown community, United Helpers has both an IRA and a Senior/Disabled housing complex located in Morristown. Scarlett’s mother, Tammy Ritchie, and Peayton’s mother, Colleen Stark, each work for United Helpers, although both girls say their essays have a deeper meaning than simply writing about where their moms work.

When Scarlett was five, she broke the knee in her left leg. “I had to go to physical therapy because I had to learn how to walk again,” she said. “Since United Helpers helped me, I hope I get the chance to help them.”

Peayton chose United Helpers because of the special bond formed with one of the residents at the IRA where her mom works. “I would like to donate to the IRA in Ogdensburg, because I have a really good connection with some of the residents there and the employees,” she wrote. “This one resident is so nice; he always called my sister and me ‘his girls.’”

Sadly, that resident passed away earlier this year, but through the impact he made on Peayton and the execution of this grant, his legacy will continue to live on.

Each girl recently had the opportunity to present the grants they won to United Helpers CEO Todd Amo. “Thank you very much for choosing us. This is fantastic,” he said. “We will be sure to put these funds to good use.”

Other organizations that have benefitted from grants earned by Mrs. Rollins’ students include the Gateway Museum in Morristown, Renewal House in Canton, and St. Joseph’s Foundation in Ogdensburg.

“I feel that the Giving Challenge is a valuable assignment and students looks forward to potentially giving back to the community they rely on so much,” Mrs. Rollins said.

An assignment in English Class at Morristown Central School has turned into $1,500 in grants for United Helpers thanks to the writings of now-freshman Scarlett Ritchie and now eighth grader Peayton Stark. Both girls wrote award winning essays while in Maggie Rollins’ seventh-grade English class. From left, United Helpers CEO Todd Amo, Peayton’s mother Colleen Stark, who works as a MDSP at the Spruce Street IRA in Ogdensburg, Peayton, Scarlett and her mother Tammy Ritchie, who works as comptroller for the United Helpers organization.

Forever a Champion: Superman Sam

MORRISTOWN - For professional wrestling fans the words, “and new heavyweight champion of the world,” are designed to elicit emotion. Sometimes it’s a rousing ovation with lots of cheers, and sometimes it’s booing and anger.

For Sam Hoffman when he heard those words on Wednesday, April 19, the emotion he experienced was tears of joy, similar to that that of Shawn Michaels when he won his first World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestlemania 12. 

Superman Sam

The announcement came as the culmination of an afternoon that included the gift of an “official” Superman Sam t-shirt, a visit from Independent Wrestling Champions Mike Skyros, who visited in-person, and Jay Freddie, who visited through a Facebook video chat.

“Superman Sam,” as he had been dubbed by friends and caregivers days prior, sat in his wheelchair with his arm raised and a championship belt across his lap, Mr. Skyros stood by and applauded Mr. Hoffman’s championship moment.

“I was honored to even be asked to take part in an event like this for Superman Sam,” Mr. Skyros said. “People like Sam are the reason that we do what we do. Not everyone will get rich off of professional wrestling, but putting a smile on someone’s face is often just as rewarding as a big paycheck.”

Just a few days prior to this Mr. Hoffman, who considers superheroes and professional wrestling two of his favorite things, had been placed on Hospice Care.

Residential Manager Lauren Peters, who has known and helped care for Sam since he first came to United Helpers in 2011 said she wanted to help do something special for him.

“I reached out to a staff member who I knew was a professional wrestling fan to see if we could do a little something for Sam, but neither of us expected things to take off the way they did.”

“I contacted a few guys I knew from being a fan of the North Country Independent wrestling scene,” said Benny Fairchild, who also serves as Marketing and Communications Specialist for United Helpers. “Within minutes of chatting with both Mike and Jay, I knew we would be able to do something.”

Mr. Fairchild then reached out to dozens of other wrestlers through their social media accounts securing videos from Jake “the Snake” Roberts, Kane, Abdullah the Butcher and Fandango.

However, it was a message to Indiana-based independent wrestling promoter Jason “the Hurricane” Mayples that set the wheels in motion for what would follow next.

“Mr. Mayples was kind enough to ask me about Sam and he asked for a picture of Sam to share on his social media,” Mr. Fairchild said.

Following that posting videos for Sam began pouring in. Within the next 24 hours more than 30 videos came in from professional wrestlers located all over the country, including ECW legend Pitbull #1, former WWF and WCW wrestling star Sam Houston, and Gregory Iron, a gentleman who call himself the world’s only professional wrestler with cerebral palsy.

When all of the videos were put together they totaled nearly 30 minutes in length.

Mr. Mayples created a video where he did several impressions for Mr. Hoffman, leading Superman Sam, who is non-verbal, to shout “Hoeee,” like Hacksaw Jim Duggan, “La Raza,” like Eddie Guerrro, and even flap his tongue like The Rock when Mr. Mayples said, “If you smell, la, la, la, what the Rock is cookin’.”  Superman Sam was even named “an official Heroes and Legends wrestling champion.”

Another promotion, Florida-based Knockout Wrestling named Superman Sam an honorary member of their roster.

Jason Davis, who lives outside of Alexandria Bay and wrestles under the name “Myzery the Barbarian,” sent along a video, noting the next time he defended his “Fight for the Mind heavyweight championship,” he was going to have Superman Sam “in his corner” to make sure it was a fair fight.

Mr. Roberts also said he may need to call in Sam for back-up. “There’s a bunch of bull crap going on that I want to straighten out and I think you’re just the guy who can help me do it.”

Prior to being named the new Heavyweight Champion of the World, Superman Sam, together with staff from the Morristown IRA, where he lives, and Mr. Skyros watched the videos stirring up a range of emotions that included laughter, tears, and plenty of smiles.

Ms. Peters said Superman Sam would spend lots of time over the next two days watching those videos and smiling almost every time he heard a wrestler say his name.

Sadly though, Superman Sam will not get the opportunity to back up the Barbarian or travel to Georgia to help Jake “the Snake” Roberts take care of whoever it is that’s giving him a hard time.

Superman Sam passed away peacefully just two days later on Friday, April 21.

Mike Skyros, Superman Sam, Benny Fairchild