If there is one thing Nassau County does well, it is a display of love and support. Just like Plainedge and Massapequa turned blue for Detective Brian 
Moore, on May 20, Island Trees and Levittown turned purple in support of student Francisco Perez. The shy sophomore with the affectionate smile has been battling pancreatic cancer, but puts on a brave face under his purple bandana.
“The students came to their teachers and said they wanted to do something for Francisco,” said Island Trees Assistant Principal Pamela Hotstetter. “There were a lot of ideas floating around and we came together as a committee and sat down for about six weeks,” said Hotstetter of the two events in honor of Perez.
Sophomore class advisors Dan Haggerty and Sue Alahverdian decorated the school by creating banners and a whole atmosphere of support for Perez and his family. Purple ribbons and bows were also tied to the trees around the school and neighborhood.
“We wanted to have a fundraiser but also a fabulous celebration. Everyone came together; the kids were fundraising for weeks with bake sales and selling purple bracelets, just collecting money,” said Hotstetter of the funds raised, which currently total about $20,000 and will go directly to Perez’s family. “I’ve been here for 25 years and this community never lets anyone down. It’s one of the communities with the biggest hearts I’ve ever seen. We could barely contain the kids today because they were so excited.”
It was Principal Nick Grande’s idea to walk in a parade during the morning and Physical Education teacher and Key Club Advisor Christine Hoffman’s idea to come up with a head shaving fundraiser. Perez’s family, including his parents and grandmother, were the guests of honor and led the parade, which marched around the perimeter of the high school and surrounding community streets to the tune of the marching band.
“Middle school kids came outside dressed in their purple shirts with signs and purple balloons,” said Grande, who has been in the district for 23 years and a principal for six of them. “We’ve never had something to this magnitude for an event like this. We have 750 kids ready to do the walk and Francisco is the only one still sitting in class. He’s a terrific student, comes from a great family; we’re all here to support him.”
A local barbershop as well as Top Cuts Hair Salon in Bethpage donated their time to shave hair for the boys and several teachers, and give purple hair extensions to the girls. Perez’s sister, Gloria, helped by designing the purple T-shirt, featuring a penguin, her brother’s favorite animal.
“The principal and my guidance counselor, who have known us for a long time, wanted to do something for my family,” said the senior, adding that all of the support means the world to her family. “My brother means a lot to me and I know he’s capable of achieving anything. I’m very proud of him and everything he’s accomplished. I didn’t think it would be this big, but I love the support that my family and my brother is receiving.”
Perez receives chemotherapy on Thursdays, but still comes to school when he can. When his parents asked about the option of home schooling, the district didn’t even give it a second thought.
“I knew Francisco when he first came to our middle school and as soon as he got sick, the one thing he was concerned about was if he could still be in school,” said Perez’s guidance counselor Christina Moore, who has been at Island Trees for 13 years. “We’ve done everything we can for him to stay here because that is what’s most important to him. His family being here today, they’re a ball of emotion, just seeing how everyone is coming together for their son is just priceless.”
Senior Loida Escobar has been a family friend of the Perez family for years.
“Gloria and I have been friends since seventh grade when she came over from Peru. We’re basically like sisters, so Francisco is like my little brother,” said Escobar, who learned of Perez’s diagnosis after receiving a phone call from Gloria. “I think it’s great; I love how the entire school has come and shown their support. Fr
ancisco has the support of his friends, but this really helps his motivation to be strong.”
Grande said that the school is planning on holding more events for Perez before the year is over and that he is proud to represent such a supportive and caring group of individuals.
“Levittown as a community is known to come together always, and it’s really something to see,” said Grande. “Today is just another example of the type of kids that we have here—magnificent, and people have been so generous.”
Taken aback by the amount of love and support for him, Perez wants his school and peers to know that he is truly grateful.
“I think it’s beautiful, I don’t know what to really say,” he said.
“I just wanted to thank the community, the school especially for doing this,” added Gloria. “My family is so happy and my brother is happy too.”
Francisco Perez Day was another beautiful example of one school’s love and support for one of their own.
