Three South Side Middle School eighth-graders stepped into the boxing ring in a different way this spring — not with gloves on their own hands, but by turning them into personalized works of art for people living with Parkinson’s disease.
Natalie Brennan and Emma Martino, both 14, and Penny Foley, 13, designed and painted more than 40 pairs of boxing gloves for members of the Rock Steady Boxing program at Meg-n-Fit, a nonprofit fitness program for people with Parkinson’s in Oceanside.
For the three friends — who have known one another since they attended Francis F. Wilson Elementary School — the project quickly became personal. Foley’s grandmother takes part in the Rock Steady program, and the students were initially inspired to paint gloves just for her during the holiday season before expanding the effort into a larger community effort.
Under the mentorship of South Side studio art teacher Cadence Elbroody, the students began raising money by selling Parkinson’s-awareness bracelets at school to purchase supplies for a handful of gloves.
As support for the project spread, what began as a small effort quickly grew into a broader initiative involving local families, businesses and those with Parkinson’s.
“This project strongly reflects the goals of the MYP community project,” Elbroody said, referring to the Middle Years Programme. “Penny, Natalie and Emma truly encompassed all of those key points, which will in turn prepare them to be successful both now and in the future.”
After the girls connected with Megan Griffo, owner of Meg-n-Fit and organizer of the Rock Steady program, the project expanded further. With community support and donations coordinated by Griffo, the students ultimately received 40 pairs of boxing gloves to decorate. Over the course of roughly two months, they spent afternoons, evenings and weekends painting colorful designs inspired by program participants’ personalities and interests.
The gloves featured flowers, symbols, inspirational themes and vibrant patterns intended to make each pair unique. Some designs reflected the boxers’ hobbies or personality quirks, helping make each pair feel personal and meaningful.
“The looks on the faces of the folks with Parkinson’s was a sight to be seen,” Griffo said. “As a fitness coach, as a Rock Steady coach, I’ve always lived by one thing, and that is that all my clients should be able to come and breathe freely, move freely and let go of any burdens that hold them back. As each Parkinson’s fighter chose their gloves, they seemed to walk away a little taller, a little bolder and a little more ready to face what’s coming their way. It was incredible.”
Natalie said she was equally moved by the reaction.
“My favorite part was giving the gloves to the people,” she said, “because I liked seeing which ones they liked and their faces when they saw them.”
Family members, friends, Penny’s sister, Lucy, and Elbroody helped paint several pairs, though the three students completed most of the designs themselves.
The gloves were unveiled at a luncheon and tea party hosted by Lenox and Park Italian Bistro and Flour Shoppe Café, in Rockville Centre, for members of the Parkinson’s boxing program and their families. Participants selected their preferred pairs from displays set across the room while guests admired the students’ work.
“It was most meaningful to see how much of a difference it makes for these people,” Emma said. “Having a personalized glove, it can make them feel more confident.”
Through the project, the girls said, they gained a deeper understanding of Parkinson’s and the daily challenges many people face while living with it.
They also said they hoped their work would help raise awareness of the disease and show other students that community service can be approached creatively by combining personal interests, such as art, with meaningful causes.
“I think people can learn there are other ways to do community service other than just volunteering at different places,” Penny said, “and that you could do something that you’re interested in, like art, and you could use it to make other people happy.”
The project was part of South Side Middle School’s Middle Years Programme, embedded in the school’s International Baccalaureate framework. The initiative encourages eighth-graders to build community relationships and address causes that are meaningful to them.
What began as a small project among friends became a meaningful experience for dozens of “Parkinson’s fighters” and their families, demonstrating how students can make an impact through creativity, empathy and service.
“I hope Penny, Natalie and Emma know that they are capable of anything they put their heart and mind to,” Elbroody said, “and I am truly proud of the artists and young women that they have become.”
