"This all stems from on Sept. 30, 19 days after the 9/11 attacks, when we held a memorial service for Todd. People kept coming up asking how they could do something in Todd’s name," said Herb Ouida, Todd’s father. "They wanted to be able to write a check with Todd’s name on it. So my daughter’s mother-in-law suggested we do something to help children who are like Todd."
As a child, Todd suffered from anxiety attacks and was unable to attend school as a regular student for three years. But with the help of a child psychiatrist he was able to attend River Dell High School, where he played football and wrestled.
"We created the foundation with the help of the Community Foundation of New Jersey with the idea of helping children who suffer from anxiety and depression. Then we learned about Zippy’s Friends and we branched out into working in prevention," Ouida said.
Zippy’s Friends is an international, school-based program that helps kindergarten and first grade children develop coping skills. It is currently implemented in the River Edge School District.
"Much of this is done for our own healing but it’s also our way and everyone else’s to remember Todd," Ouida said. "That people can learn about a young man who walked, talked, did great things, and overcame much in his life."
Each year, the foundation does something different to celebrate Todd’s birthday and have held events at Spring Lake Day Camp, Yankee Stadium, River Dell High School and River Edge Memorial Field. The proceeds from each year’s event always go toward children.
"My granddaughter Ashley actually complained about how the previous year’s event was held at a night club when it’s a children foundation," Ouida said.
This year, the foundation will present Laurie Berkner at bergenPAC in Englewood on Sunday, May 18 at 1 p.m.
"We never thought we would get Laurie Berkner to perform because she is so popular," Ouida said. "We always try to do something that fits Todd’s personality and the fact that he knew Laurie was important."
Laurie Berkner has been a professional musician since 1992. After college, Laurie worked as music counselor at summer camps, and later worked for several years as a children’s music specialist at New York area preschool and day care centers. She has released several CDs and appeared on Noggin TV (owned by Nickelodeon) on their Move to the Music series.
Currently, the foundation has sold over 800 tickets. Their goal is to sell 1,300. They will also sponsor 50 children and their families from some of the organizations that they work with to come to the concert free of charge.
