Roslyn High School student Evan Kirsch has found a new way to impress friends and family and also bring happiness to those at senior citizen homes, boys’ and girls’ clubs, libraries and hospitals. Evan is an accomplished magician and, according to his mother, has been doing magic since he was 8 years old.
He has done volunteer performances at both St. Mary’s and Cohen children’s hospitals. This summer he has been volunteering at Cohen, performing there every two weeks for the children doing bedside magic.
“Magic Evan is just that, magical,” said Amanda Filippazzo of Cohen. “The Child Life and Creative Art Therapy Program is proud to host Evan as he shares his talents with our patients and families. Performing for our patients every month, Evan Kirsch is a dedicated and gifted young adult with a passion for helping others.”
Hospitalization for children can be traumatizing and filled with fear and anxiety.
“With special events and visitors like Evan, we are able to provide a distraction to the hospitalization and help our patients create positive memories,” said Filippazzo. “As soon as Evan walks in a room, patients and families of all ages and walks of life are mesmerized. His talent is truly astonishing and his wide variety of tricks always keep our patients wanting more. To see the looks on our patients’ faces when Evan magically pulls out their card or turns playing cards into dollar bills is absolutely priceless.”
Aside from inpatient units, Evan also shares his talent at the annual Friends and Families Day at the Ronald McDonald House. This year he will be wowing the crowd at the 31st annual event for the Ronald McDonald House.
“Whether he is putting on a show in front of 15 people in a playroom, for a family at their bedside, or for one patient who is in isolation and cannot leave the room, the reaction is always the same: joy,” Filippazzo said. “We are thankful for Evan and his ability to handle the most delicate situations with grace and respect, all while managing to make our patients, their families and even our staff members smile and laugh. Although we do not know how he pulls off his magic tricks, there is one thing we know for certain: Evan is a wonderful talent with a kind heart.”
Besides the volunteer shows, Evan works as a professional magician at several North Shore country clubs, large family events, bar and bat mitzvahs, weddings and Communions.
Visit his website at www.evanmagic.com.
