Number of Participants: 1
Hours Donated: 50
Value of Time Served: $1,740
Event Type: Children & Youth
Activity: Football
School: Ward Melville Senior High School
Date: August 6, 2025
Location:
Ward Melville High School
Old Town Road, Setauket- East Setauket
NY
About:
Several members of the Ward Melville Football team recently hosted an “Under the Lights” youth clinic, welcoming about 70 local children for a free evening of football skill-building and community engagement. While there was no cost to participate, families were invited to donate a stuffed animal if they were able.
All donated stuffed animals were given to the Stony Brook Fire Department, where Ward Melville athlete Hudson Philbrick serves as a member of the Junior Fire Department program. The cause holds deep personal meaning for Hudson: as a young child, he experienced a severe allergic reaction and was transported by ambulance. During that ride, an EMT gave him a stuffed frog — a keepsake he still has today — which provided comfort during a frightening moment. Inspired by that experience, he wanted to offer the same comfort to other children facing emergencies.
In total, the group collected about 50 stuffed animals, which were presented to the fire department at its monthly meeting. Ten teammates, including Ward Melville alum JJ Lap, volunteered at the clinic, and each child who donated a stuffed animal received a special clinic T-shirt as a thank-you.
Over the past year, Hudson has volunteered approximately 50 hours with the fire department, participating in events such as Santa visits, fundraising rose sales, and other department initiatives. His ongoing commitment reflects a strong dedication to service and to supporting the community he proudly represents.
