Mentors
Meet the mentors that make SNAP awesome!
Coleen O'Kane
Mentor
Hi, My name is Colleen O’Kane and I currently attend the Lumen Gentium Academy in Boonton. I’ve been volunteering at SNAP for 6 years. Before that, I was a SNAP ambassador at my elementary school. I love being a mentor for a lot of different reasons. I love working with and getting to know the participants. Each of them are so unique and amazing, and I’ve created a lot of bonds with them. I enjoy seeing them have fun, and their joy is contagious. I’d say they help me more than I help them.
Thomas Albanito
Mentor
My name is Thomas Albanito and I have been a SNAP mentor for 4 years! I am currently attending Oratory Prep, where I play baseball and basketball. Something I love about SNAP is the community. The people are what make up SNAP, and everyone brings something to the table in a special way.
Morgan Heller
Mentor
Hi, I'm Morgan, I am currently at Randolph High School! Since 2019, I've been volunteering at SNAP. Being a mentor at SNAP brings me joy as I leave every week knowing I've made a positive impact on someone's life. Reflecting on each session, it warms my heart to see the growth and progress of each participant, making my experience both fun and rewarding.
Following a conversation with Kim, I have taken the initiative to revive the "Peace for Parents" room.
This space now features a box filled with snacks, and mindful activities such as coloring and puzzle books, providing parents with a source of relaxation and entertainment. In addition to this, I recently had an educational session and am planning game nights and a yoga session.
The goal is to create a nurturing environment that caters to both children and parents, developing a sense of peace and well-being for all involved.
Hannah Urbach
Mentor
My name is Hannah and I am attending Millburn High School. I have been a mentor for about 2 years and I really enjoy it. I have made so many friends and it always makes me so happy when they achieve new things while playing sports and activities.
Russell Urbach
Mentor
My name is Russell and I go to the Morristown-Beard School. I have been a mentor for Snap for about 2 years. My favorite part about being a mentor is making new friends and playing with all of the kids.
Ellie Kaplan
Mentor
Hi, my name is Ellie! I am 17 and have been with SNAP for 2 years.
I like providing support and guidance to my child and being there to help develop new skills. I especially love it when I get the same child more than once as we are able to build a friendship and trust with one another.
Asher Kaplan
Mentor
My name is Asher. I am 14 and have been with SNAP for over a year!
I enjoy helping little kids and being there for them. I love seeing them smile and laugh with me. It is such a rewarding experience.
Matthew Del Vento
Mentor
My name is Matthew! I am currently attending the Pingry School and have been with SNAP since 2023.
I enjoy being a mentor at SNAP because it gives me the opportunity to help others! Giving kids with autism a place to go to every week, to meet new friends, play sports, try something new is why I wanted to be a part of SNAP. It feels great to see them having fun and learning new skills. I enjoy the bondI have made with some of the kids, and the feeling that I can make a difference is so rewarding.
Dylan Polesuk
Mentor
I’m Dylan, a Senior at Randolph High School. I started in 2022 as a SNAP mentor. I enjoy being a mentor because I find it rewarding to be a role model for young children and share my love of sports with them.
Emma Del Vento
Mentor
My name is Emma! I am currently attending the Morristown Beard School and have been mentoring since 2023.
I love being a mentor at SNAP for so many reasons! First, I love that I have made so many new friends, both mentors from other towns and the special friendship I have formed with my mentee. Her and I share a love for the NY Giants, and I love helping her practice her field goal kicks at SNAP. The most rewarding thing for me is that I see the look on the kids’ faces every week when we show up. It's Something I always look forward to!
Alex Padewski
Mentor
My name is Alex Padewski. I am currently a Senior at Randolph High school. I started with SNAP in 2021. What I like most about being a mentor is helping other kids know that they have good people who will always support them. I am thankful for the opportunity to volunteer with such great kids and other volunteers.
Frank Mauriello
Mentor
My name is Frank Mauriello and I'm a Senior at MCVTS. I like to hang out with friends and go down the shore. I have been with SNAP since 2021 and love my SNAP family.
Addison Freimauer
Mentor
My name is Addison. I am currently in 12th grade at Millburn High School. I have been volunteering at SNAP since May 2023. I like being a mentor at SNAP because I enjoy sharing my passion for sports with all the participants.
Zach Freimauer
Mentor
My name is Zach. I am currently in 10th grade at Millburn High School. I have been volunteering at SNAP since April 2023. I like being a mentor because I like seeing all the kids enjoying themselves and engaging in activities that I enjoy also.
Lydia
Mentor
My name is Lydia and I am in 7th Grade at Freylinghuysen Middle School. I have been a mentor at SNAP since January 2024 and I like to see all of the new friends I’ve made through SNAP.
Daniel Sharkey
Mentor
Hi, My name is Daniel Sharkey and I am a student at Randolph High School in Randolph, NJ. I have been a SNAP mentor for over 3 years. I first learned about SNAP at an ice skating event through my hockey club team. I enjoy participating with SNAP because I love sports and games and I like working with different kids every week. It’s rewarding and fun knowing that I helped someone have a good time while they are at SNAP.
Zach Weinberger
Mentor
Hi, my name is Zach and I am an 8th grader at Florence M. Gaudineer Middle School. I have been with SNAP for a few months, but so far it has been amazing. I love seeing the kids smile and having fun. Whether it is talking about their day or playing basketball, it's just so fun to hang out with them.
Jackie O'Connor
Mentor
My name is Jackie O’Connor, and I am a sophomore at the Academy of St.
Elizabeth. I have been a mentor now for two months, and have enjoyed every moment
of it. I like being a mentor at SNAP because it allows me to connect with kids and teens that I wouldn’t be able to otherwise. I love bonding with each participant and learning how to make their experience here fun and engaging. When I am able to make someone’s day a little brighter, that joy reflects back on to me, putting a smile on my face.
Ben Karol
Mentor
Hello everyone, my name is Benjamin (Ben) Karol and I am 15 years old. I attend Randolph High School and have been a mentor with SNAP since October 2024. I love working with kids and watching everyone smile as they have fun participating in all the activities. I also enjoy playing sports with the kids and seeing how good they are at everything they do.
Jason Charette
Mentor
My name is Jason Charette and I am currently attending Frelinghuysen Middle School. I’ve been volunteering at SNAP for six months. Before that I was a SNAP ambassador in elementary school. My favorite thing about SNAP is learning about the kids and getting to know them better each week. I also love the feeling of community among the students and the mentors.
