Elijah-Alavi Foundation, 348 west 57st suite 276, New York, NY (2026)

06/01/2026

We Built Bears. We Built Awareness.
Our hearts are full of gratitude as we reflect on our Build Awareness event. What began as a day of fun and creativity became a powerful reminder of what can happen when a community comes together with a shared purpose.

Thank you to our presenting sponsor, Kaleo, and to every sponsor, donor, community partner, volunteer, and family who helped make this event possible. Your generosity, partnership, and belief in our mission helped create an experience that brought smiles to children, support to families, and awareness to our community.

A special thank you to bitebrave Inc., ARS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Red Bull New York, Early Childhood Anaphylaxis Collaborative, Just Like You Films Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Kids With Food Allergies, a division of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, HealthFirst Public Access Center for Food Allergy and Asthma Research (CFAAR), MedicAlert Foundation - United States, Spokin, Dr. Reneé Matthews LEGOLAND , Abe's Muffins, Craig Watson, MBA Baked Cravings Homefree, LLC Vermont Nut Free Chocolates, Partake Foods, YumEarth, Carabie, Yobee, EUFOREA - European Forum for Research and Education in Allergy and Airway Diseases, PracMedic Bags - Know the Difference Detective Harley F.A.D.D., Two Alpha Gals, FAACT, Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Connection Team Your Way Creations, Allergy Pals, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Inc.- Rho Epsilon Sigma Chapter, and all of our supporters and volunteers.

We are especially grateful to Red Bull New York and LEGOLAND New York Resort for generously donating raffle tickets, Nicole for donating the Universal Studios tickets, and Your Way Creations for donating the Ulta and Hotels.com gift cards. Your generosity helped create excitement, smiles, and unforgettable experiences for the families we serve.

Because of you, we didn't just build bears, we built awareness, connection, understanding, and hope for children and families living with food allergies and asthma. 💙✨

05/31/2026

⚠️ They are being pulled from shelves. ⚠️

05/31/2026

💙🧸 Thank You for Joining Us at Our Build Awareness Event! 🧸💙

On May 17th, we had the privilege of bringing families together for a truly special day of fun, learning, connection, and awareness. Seeing so many familiar faces, meeting new families, watching children create their own bears, and witnessing the joy throughout the day made this event incredibly meaningful.

Thank you to everyone who came out and spent the day with us. Your support, enthusiasm, and commitment to learning more about food allergies and anaphylaxis helped make this event such a success. Events like these remind us of the strength of our community and the importance of creating spaces where families can connect, learn, and feel supported.

A special thank you to our presenting sponsor, , for your continued partnership and dedication to helping keep children safe through education, awareness, and access to lifesaving medication.

We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to our incredible in-kind sponsors and community partners: , ARS PHARM , , , , , , , .kids , , , – , and all of our supporters who helped make this event possible. To every volunteer .pals who helped make this event possible, thank you. Your time, dedication, and support helped create a day filled with smiles, learning, connection, and community for so many families.

A special thank you to Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Rho Epsilon Sigma Chapter, for co-hosting this event with us. Your partnership, leadership, and commitment to service helped make the day truly unforgettable. 💙🧸

Together, we are building awareness, understanding, empathy, and safer communities for children and families living with food allergies.

From all of us at the Elijah-Alavi Foundation, thank you for being part of such a memorable day. 💙🧸✨

05/31/2026

💙🧸 Thank You for Joining Us at Our Build Awareness Event! 🧸💙

On May 17th, we had the privilege of bringing families together for a truly special day of fun, learning, connection, and awareness. Seeing so many familiar faces, meeting new families, watching children create their own bears, and witnessing the joy throughout the day made this event incredibly meaningful.

Thank you to everyone who came out and spent the day with us. Your support, enthusiasm, and commitment to learning more about food allergies and anaphylaxis helped make this event such a success. Events like these remind us of the strength of our community and the importance of creating spaces where families can connect, learn, and feel supported.

A special thank you to our presenting sponsor, , for your continued partnership and dedication to helping keep children safe through education, awareness, and access to lifesaving medication.

We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to our incredible in-kind sponsors and community partners: , ARS PHARM , , , , , , , .kids , , , – , and all of our supporters who helped make this event possible. To every volunteer .pals who helped make this event possible, thank you. Your time, dedication, and support helped create a day filled with smiles, learning, connection, and community for so many families.

A special thank you to Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Rho Epsilon Sigma Chapter, for co-hosting this event with us. Your partnership, leadership, and commitment to service helped make the day truly unforgettable. 💙🧸

Together, we are building awareness, understanding, empathy, and safer communities for children and families living with food allergies.

From all of us at the Elijah-Alavi Foundation, thank you for being part of such a memorable day. 💙🧸✨

05/29/2026

As Food Allergy Awareness Month comes to a close, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Just Like You Films, Kaléo, AMC Theatres, and everyone who came out to support this incredible film and its message.

A special thank you to all of the individuals and families who courageously shared their voices and stories in May Contain: My Life: Presley Alexander, Quinn Catherine Brown, Hannah Brown, Alexis Del Cid, Fabio Lo Fria, Tanner Hagen, Jerome Bettis, Dina Hawthorne, Giles Kearns, Mandi Kearns, Ava Kolker, August Maturo, Zeina Montifar, Owen Osborne, Thomas Silvera, and Anna Stover. Your honesty, vulnerability, and willingness to share your experiences helped create something truly meaningful that will continue to educate and inspire others.

We also want to recognize the incredible team behind the film. Thank you to Executive Producers Mandi Kearns, Ava Kolker, and August Maturo; Producers Jennifer Greenstreet and Chad Swenson; and Line Producer Natalie Cordray. Thank you for believing in the power of these stories and for bringing them to life with such care, compassion, and purpose. To the editors, cinematographers, directors, production crew, and everyone at Just Like You Films who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, thank you for creating a film that gives a voice to our community and helps foster understanding, empathy, and change.

Dina, Sebastin, and I are truly humbled and grateful to have been included among so many remarkable voices. This film reminds us that behind every diagnosis is a person, a family, and a story worth hearing.

Today is the last day to see May Contain: My Life in select AMC Theatres, so if it's playing in your area, we encourage you to experience it and share it with others.

While Food Allergy Awareness Month may be coming to an end, the need for awareness, empathy, understanding, inclusion, and education does not. When we know better, we do better. Let’s continue the conversations, continue learning, and continue building safer spaces for everyone living with food allergies.

Thank you all for being part of this journey. ❤️

05/29/2026

As we wrap up Food Allergy Awareness Month in May, the Food Allergy Collaborative—Elijah Alavi Foundation, AllergyStrong, Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research (AAIR), Allergy & Asthma Network, Alpha-gal Alliance, FOODiversity, and FARE—is proud to share Stronger Together, a new public service announcement campaign. With special thanks to Thomas Silvera of the Elijah Alavi Foundation for scripting the campaign, this PSA delivers a simple, powerful truth: When we speak as one, we become stronger. Watch Stronger Together and join us in sharing the message.
FoodAllergy.org/FAC"

Opinion: As we expand childcare, let’s ensure children with allergies are protected

05/28/2026

Please read: After losing our 3-year-old son, Elijah-Alavi Silvera, on November 3, 2017, following a severe allergic reaction at daycare, Dina and I made it our mission to help ensure no other family experiences this kind of tragedy. Elijah had a known severe dairy allergy, but emergency protocols were not properly followed, and epinephrine was not administered in time.

At the time, New York had no laws in place to protect children with food allergies in childcare settings. In response, we created the Elijah-Alavi Foundation and worked alongside lawmakers, including Assemblyman Al Taylor and Brian Benjamin, to help pass Elijah’s Law in 2019, the first law of its kind in New York, focused on allergy safety in childcare centers.

While the law was an important step forward, it still does not require childcare centers to stock epinephrine devices for emergencies. That is why Linda B. Rosenthall and State Senator Andrew Gounardes have been leading the efforts to strengthen the law by introducing legislation that would require state-licensed childcare centers to stock weight-based epinephrine devices, train staff to recognize and respond to anaphylaxis, and improve communication with families and state agencies following allergic emergencies. This law is a new version of Elijah's Law.

As more families rely on childcare, it is critical that providers are equipped with both the training and the life-saving tools needed to respond quickly when seconds matter. Dina and I will continue advocating alongside these legislators and our partners to help create safer childcare environments for all children and greater peace of mind for families across New York

Opinion: As we expand childcare, let’s ensure children with allergies are protected All state licensed childcare centers should be required to stock epinephrine devices in case of emergency.

Elijah-Alavi Foundation

Share

Location

Contact the school

Website

Address