East Islip High School’s varsity softball team and coach Jason McGowan met up at a local Target store before the holidays to participate in the team’s annual shopping extravaganza for the nonprofit Christmas Magic program, coordinated by Hauppauge attorney Charlie Russo.

In conjunction with the Amityville High School WAC PAC, a student leadership program coordinated by McGowan, teens shopped for 84 underprivileged children who attend a daycare center in Middle Island. Each athlete, shopping for two to three children, was given a $100 bill and a handwritten “Dear Santa” list filled with clothing, toys and electronics. “I loved shopping for my little girl,” said student Ashley Benvengo. “It felt good knowing that she woke up Christmas morning and had a bunch of toys.”

IMG_3936: East Islip High School’s varsity softball team shopped for underprivileged children at Target as part of the annual Christmas Magic program.

Photo by East Islip School District

Hampton Bays High School is set to host its annual Coaches vs. Cancer Basketball Tournament on Dec. 28 and Dec 29.

The event features teams, including Westhampton Beach, Sag Harbor, Southold and Eastport, and aims to raise money for the American Cancer Society.

Last year’s event procured $5,000 for the non-profit. The event kicks off on Dec. 28 at 11 a.m. and concludes with championship games on Dec. 29 at 12:45 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. Admission is a donation of $5 for adults and $3 for students 13 and older. Students under 12 are free.

Schedule of games:

Dec. 28

 11 a.m. – Westhampton Beach Boys Basketball vs. Eastport

 12:45 p.m. – Hampton Bays Boys Basketball vs. Southold

 3:30 p.m. – Westhampton Beach Girls Basketball vs. Pierson

 5:15 p.m. – Hampton Bays Girls Basketball vs. Connetquot

Dec. 29

 11 a.m. – Girls Consolation Game

 12:45 p.m. Girls Championship Game

 3:30 p.m. Boys Consolation Game

 5:15 p.m. – Boys Championship Game

Elwood: Members of the Elwood-John H. Glenn High School Lady Knights varsity girls’ basketball team, along with their coach, Andrew Athanas, helped the Salvation Army package toys for children in need in East Northport.

Photo courtesy of the Elwood Union Free School District

For the second consecutive year, the Herricks Football program has earned the Nassau County Community Service Award. The recognition was presented on Dec. 9 at the Nassau County Grid Iron Dinner on behalf of the Nassau County High School Football Coaches Association.

The football team was recognized for its contributions to Memorial Sloan Kettering, for which it raised approximately $3,000 during a joint fundraiser with Youth Against Cancer at the Oct. 31 game, and the American Patriots Heroes Fund, which it supported through collaboration with the Vocational Independence Program that resulted in a $1,700 donation.

“It is a tremendous honor and a big deal to earn this in back-to-back years,” said Herricks Public Schools’ Director of Athletics and Physical Education Jim Petricca.  

Photo Caption: (L-R) Head Football Coach Dr. Mike Yoo with team members David

Aaronson, Chris Grau and Alex Kang.

Photo Courtesy of Herricks Public Schools

Sachem High School East and Sachem High School North combined to gather a district record 1,746 boxes for this year’s Thanksgiving food drive. Sachem North set a school record with 1,408.

The boxes of food will be distributed to homes across the Sachem community with the help of Brookhaven Interface and the Lighthouse Mission.

Sachem North’s famed “Dirty Dozen,” a group of dedicated students who work vigorously to raise money and build boxes of food, out together 725 boxes on their own.

Thanks to the generosity of one Sachem alum from the Class of 1994, who wishes to remain anonymous, a donation of nearly $2,000 came in to churn out hundreds of boxes at North.

“It’s not about number, it’s about feeding families,” said Sachem North Student Government co-advisor Jonathan Chiaramonte, who benefited from one of these boxes 23 years ago as a boy growing up in the community.

Sachem East Student Government advisors Bill Kropp and Matt Rivera are in charge of the boxes for their school and hosted an event on Monday in the building to load the food boxes and turkeys onto trucks.

“It’s getting bigger and bigger and this year it was just remarkable,” said Chris Olsen, a co-advisor for Sachem North’s Student Government.

Source: http://www.sachemreport.com/2013/11/26/sachem-donates-food-for-1700-plus-families/