Seven-year-old Noel Couch and her five-year-old sister, Mikayla, have made a big sacrifice for such little girls. For the second year in a row, they've given up birthday presents in lieu of donations to local charities, the Bergen (N.J.) Record reports.

This year is special to both girls, however. Friends and family members donated $1,600 to Englewood Hospital and Medical Center's Breast Cancer Care Center, an institution that helped their grandmother win her battle with breast cancer, the paper reports.

Noel and Mikayla have birthdays in August and September, so their parents hold a joint Labor Day party. The family decided last year since the girls already had plenty of dolls and games, they wanted to do something for people who needed help, the paper reports.

The Couches decided the best thing to do was ask guests to donate money. Last year's selected charity was the Tomorrow's Children's Fund, which benefits children with cancer.

This year, the girls knew they wanted to help the people who helped their grandmother, Doris Totaro.

Even their parents were surprised at how much party guests contributed to the breast cancer center, the paper reports.

Noel and Mikayla have more than memories for their good deed, however.

Englewood's executive director gave both of them teddy bears, and their grandmother presented them with matching varsity jackets, the paper reports.

Full text of the article is currently found at:
http://www.bergen.com/news/englemj199811045.htm