Leadership is the power of one harnessing the power of many. That is how Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Principal Eric Haruthunian introduced junior Liam Cooper to the Port Jefferson Board of Education for his efforts in raising $1,520 for Wreaths Across America.

The national organization was able to place 101 holiday wreaths on the graves of the nation’s veterans with Liam’s leadership and the help of the school’s Varsity Club, staff, administrators and community.

Haruthunian lauded Liam’s endeavor and thanked the school community for the tremendous achievement before Liam was presented with a certificate of appreciation for his undertaking of the successful project.

Photo caption: Earl L. Vandermeulen High School principal Eric Haruthunian, student, Liam Cooper, Board of Education member David Keegan and Superintendent of School Jessica Schmettan.

Photo courtesy of Port Jefferson School District

Performance by local dancers raises $4,750 to help families of children with congenital heart defects. 

ISLIP, NY, JANUARY 13, 2020– Sunday, December 15th the Dance Connection Performance Company and Dance Connection Theatrical Productions held a benefit performance at the CM Performing Arts Center in Oakdale to raise money for Gavin’s Got Heart, a local charity assisting families of infants and children diagnosed with congenital heart defects. The original production raised $4,750 for the charity, which will be used to offer financial assistance and support for these families in need. 

“At Dance Connection we feel that our passion for dance is meant to be shared and what better way than to use that passion than to give back to your community. The pride that our dancers feel knowing they brightened the holidays for their audience while raising money for a great cause is something that stays with them far beyond their dance classes.”, Mary Naftal, Artistic Director. 

Gavin’s Got Heart helps to subsidize medical bills, travel expenses associated with hospitalizations and medical care, and offset loss of wages for caregiver/parent(s). To date Gavin’s Got Heart has donated over $315,000 to 63 local heart families. Gavin’s Got Heart also provides free heart screenings, and CPR/AED training for the community through a partnership with Northwell Health and provides hospital outreach initiatives for heart families. 

The cast of 38 people worked to put the show together beginning in late September, with an original script by Colleen M. Hughes, choreography by the Dance Connection Teaching Staff, and directed by Mary DeBorger. They were thrilled to be brought together after the holidays to present Nicole Mogil, the founder of Gavin’s Got Heart with the $4,750 raised by their efforts. 

Founded in September 1989, Dance Connection is an Islip based company whose mission is to create a welcoming and fun setting for proper performing arts education. With over 85 classes per week, students of all ages and abilities have a professional and exciting experience every day. For more information on Dance Connection, please call 631 224-7134 or visit www.lidanceconnection.com. 

East Rockaway Junior-Senior High School hosted its annual basketball Friendship Games with Lynbrook High School in December 2019, where both schools and communities joined together for a good cause.

The event supported the Gregg’s Wings Foundation Toy Drive, in which each player of the boys and girls junior varsity and varsity teams donated a toy for children at NYU Winthrop’s Cancer Center for Kids.

Photo caption: 1-2: Boys and girls junior varsity and varsity teams of the East Rockaway Junior-Senior High School and Lynbrook High School faced off in the annual basketball Friendship Games for a good cause.

Photos courtesy of East Rockaway School District

The annual Massapequa fundraiser basketball game, featuring coaches, alumni and community members, will be held on Saturday, Jan. 4 from noon to 2 p.m. at Massapequa High School. This event is a collaboration between the Massapequa High School boys varsity basketball team, basketball alumni, the Boys Booster Club and family and friends of the boys’ basketball program.

Donations will support the Lustgarten Foundation for pancreatic cancer research. Raffle prizes will include gift baskets, Knicks, Nets and Rangers tickets, and items from local merchants. For more information, or if interested in playing, contact coach Marty Voigt at mvoigt@msd.k12.ny.us or (516) 445-6728.

Robbie Twible, a senior at W.T. Clarke High School in the East Meadow School District, got the surprise of a lifetime at the Dec. 13 varsity basketball game when he got his chance to join his school’s team on the court. 

Robbie loves basketball and has been the announcer for the W.T. Clarke varsity team for the last three seasons. Due to a rare skin disorder known as epidermolysis bullosa, Robbie has never been able to play the sport he loves — until the evening of Dec. 13. 

As he was announcing the game against East Rockaway, Robbie unexpectedly read his own name and number at the end of the roster. Thanks to a coordinated surprise among the W.T. Clarke and East Rockaway teams, as well as Robbie’s parents, Robbie finally got his chance on the court. He ran out to join the team he supported for so long and was finally able to participate in the sport he loved.

Clarke gained possession in the tipoff and passed the ball to Robbie. He made a layup and was officially solidified in the books as a member of the varsity basketball team. After his scoring basket, Robbie went back to announce the game for the crowd of supporters. 

The district would like to extend a special thank you to all those who helped to coordinate the surprise, especially W.T. Clarke Athletic Director Josh Friedman.

Photo caption: Robbie Twible, a senior at W.T. Clarke High School who has a rare skin disorder, finally got his chance on the basketball court during the school’s game against East Rockaway on Dec. 13. 

Photo courtesy of the East Meadow Union Free School District