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For many years, Coach Craig Bren has made it a personal mission to give back to his community. This commitment began when his youngest son survived a Stage IV cancer diagnosis. The support his family received during that challenging time became the catalyst for incorporating service into the culture of every team he has led, including the girls varsity tennis team at Beverly High School.

Beverly High has long enjoyed a strong partnership with Beverly Bootstraps, but this season Coach Bren’s team went above and beyond. In addition to collecting their annual donation item—this year, peanut butter—the team gathered 73 pounds of snacks for the young children supported by the organization. The athletes also toured the Beverly Bootstraps facility to learn more about the services provided to families in need. After the tour, they packed the 73 pounds of snacks into individual bags, which are distributed to local students on Fridays to ensure they have access to food over the weekend when school is not in session.

Coach Bren was also excited to have his team participate in the Morgan’s Message initiative this year. He is a strong advocate for sport psychology and the mental health of student-athletes, and he worked to get the tennis team involved after learning about the program last year. Much of the credit, he says, goes to Coach Danielle Hartford (Field Hockey and Lacrosse), who helped bring Morgan’s Message to Beverly High. During one of their matches, both the tennis and softball teams supported the initiative, with student-athletes selling concessions to raise funds and awareness.

Coach Bren continues to lead by example, showing that success in sports is about more than wins. It is about making a lasting impact on and off the court.

The Connetquot Baseball Program recently hosted a powerful and patriotic event—the Hometown Heroes Game—dedicated to the brave men and women who risk their lives every day to protect and serve our communities and country. This special occasion brought together local heroes, athletes, and community members for an unforgettable day of tribute, unity, and gratitude.

Before the first pitch was even thrown, the tone for the day was set with a breathtaking display: a 100-foot American flagflying proudly in centerfield, suspended between two fire department ladder trucks. As the national anthem echoed through the stadium, a Suffolk County Police Department Aviation Unit flyover added to the stirring moment, leaving fans with goosebumps and pride in their hearts.

Throughout the game, Connetquot honored representatives from a wide range of local organizations, including:

• New York State Troopers

• Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office

• Suffolk County Police Department

• Suffolk County Emerald Society Pipes and Drums

• Lakeland Fire Department

• West Sayville Fire Department

• Bohemia Fire Department

• Veterans of Foreign Wars

Each of these groups plays a vital role in keeping our communities safe, and the Hometown Heroes Game was a heartfelt thank-you for their service and sacrifice.

To further honor these heroes, the Connetquot Baseball Program is making a monetary donation to the Wounded Warrior Project, supporting injured veterans and their families. It was a gesture that underscored the team’s deep appreciation for those who have served—and continue to serve—with courage and honor.

Events like the Hometown Heroes Game highlight the incredible power of sports to bring people together, foster community pride, and shine a spotlight on the values that matter most: respect, gratitude, and service.

Read more about the event here: Newsday Coverage

The Helping Hands Club at Edward J. Bosti Elementary School in the Connetquot Central School District partnered with Suffolk Credit Union to host a successful coin drive, benefiting the Chestene Coverdale Food Pantry in Sayville.

Through the generous efforts of students and staff, the club raised over $1,500. Suffolk Credit Union then matched the donation, bringing the total to an impressive $3,100. A check was presented at the school’s assembly by Suffolk Credit Union’s VP of Corporate and Community Partnerships Laura Racioppi and Helping Hands Club adviser Lisa Manzo to Director of Chestene Coverdale Food Panty, Charlene Lehmann. 

Photo captions: 

1: The Helping Hands Club at Edward J. Bosti Elementary School hosted a coin drive in partnership with Suffolk Credit Union to benefit a Sayville food pantry. 

2: From left, Suffolk Credit Union’s VP of Corporate and Community Partnerships Laura Racioppi, Director of Chestene Coverdale Food Panty Charlene Lehmann and Helping Hands Club adviser Lisa Manzo with the check being donated to Chestene Coverdale Food Pantry. 

 

Photos courtesy of Connetquot Central School District

Despite rainy weather, the spirit of giving and community was alive and well at Francis X. Hegarty Elementary School in Island Park on May 9, as students laced up their sneakers for the school’s annual Winner’s Walk.

Hosted indoors this year due to inclement weather, the event transformed the school gymnasium into a lively course, complete with decorations and enthusiastic participants. Organized by the F.X. Hegarty Leadership Club in partnership with the physical education department, the walk celebrated school spirit, encouraged physical activity and raised over $360 to benefit the Creative Arts Therapy Source in Garden City.

In conjunction with Mental Health Awareness Month, this year’s fundraiser supports a nonprofit mission of providing healing through art therapy.

A cherished tradition since the 1980s, the Winner’s Walk continues to promote health, wellness and compassion in the Island Park school community while making a meaningful impact beyond school walls. 

 

Photos courtesy of Island Park Public Schools

A disease with no known cause or cure sparked ninth graders into action as the ALS Ride for Life visited the Massapequa High School Ames Campus on May 13. Students lined the sidewalk along the front driveway for the brief but impactful event that has become a staple over the past 15 years. 

With “We Are the Champions” playing, students held up signs of encouragement as they welcomed Ride For Life champion Jordan. He is battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, a progressive neurogenerative disease that causes muscle weakness and paralysis. 

Jordan expressed his gratitude for the support from the students. He also pointed to the wheelchair-accessible van that was purchased for his family by ALS Ride for Life to help him continue living his life, allowing him to watch his daughters run track or see their dance recitals. Donations to the organization are what makes that possible, he explained, and Ames presented ALS Ride for Life with $200 raised by the student government.  

Student leaders marched into the driveway holding banners with the faces of past Ride For Life participants who have since passed. Christine Pendergast, wife of the organization’s founder, Chris Pendergast, spoke about its origins as a way of raising more awareness. 

“We were both educators and we knew that students were the future, so we have been speaking to hundreds of thousands of students over the years across Long Island,” she said, adding that the organization is still going strong despite Chris’s death four-and-a-half years ago because “so many patients need the help.”

Christine visited the school prior to Ride For Life for a presentation to students about ALS and the challenges it presents to patients. 

Ames students leaders noted that the presentation about ALS and the Ride For Life visit made a meaningful impact. Robert Stork said seeing people who are fighting the disease will encourage others to keep fundraising and spreading awareness.

“We want to get it out to the world so we can find a cure for this,” he said. 

“Everyone rallying together was inspirational,” added Brooke McGovern. “It was really nice to see.”

Anamilena Serrano said that Massapequa is the perfect destination for ALS Ride For Life because it is a tight-knit community where people rally behind important causes.

“What I find most inspiring is that they continue to ride every year and bring awareness to the cause,” she said. 

Principal Tania Willman said that having ALS Ride For Life visit Ames each year shows students a powerful message about overcoming obstacles. She thanked students for coming together as a community and supporting the event. 

“We are going to remain optimistic and we are never going to lose hope, those are really important pillars,” Ms. Willman said. “We have so much appreciation and gratitude to riders past and present for instilling that message in us.”

 

Photo captions:

1: Massapequa High School’s Ames Campus welcomed the ALS Ride For Life on May 13, a tradition that has spanned about 15 years. 

2: Ninth graders held up signs of encouragement for ALS patients.

3: Students welcomed ALS champion Jordan to the school. 

4: Leaders from student government held banners that included the pictures of past Ride For Life participants who have since passed.

5: As Principal Tania Willman addressed students, ninth grade student leader Robert Stork presented this year’s donation to ALS champion Jordan. 

 

Photos courtesy of the Massapequa School District