NEW YORK, N.Y. – Members of the Pace University athletics community took some time on Sunday, Sept. 10 to participate in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in New York City. More than 90 Pace participants were involved in the event, including student-athletes from softball and women’s lacrosse, along with students from Phi Sigma Sigma sorority. In fact, the Setter group won the award for Largest College/University Team for the 27^th time.

“Breast cancer is a reality for too many people,” said Softball Head Coach and Associate Athletics Director Claudia Stabile. “To be a part of such an incredible event that recognizes survivors, those that are in the midst of their battle with cancer and those who have lost loved ones is very moving.  We were proud to march among the thousands of people who joined together for a common cause—to find a cure.”

Coach Stabile and the Pace Softball team took part in the event for the ninth time. The Susan G. Komen Foundation has invested over $2.6 billion to programs and research in over 30 countries. The organization is the only one of its kind to address breast cancer from numerous angles investing in research, community health, global outreach and public policy initiatives.

About Pace University Athletics
Pace University is an NCAA Division II member of the Northeast-10 Conference that sponsors 14 intercollegiate sports. In each of the last two semesters, 72 percent of Pace student-athletes achieved a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher, and nine teams have been honored with the NE10 Team Excellence Award since 2011. Pace teams have made 13 NCAA appearances since 2011. In 2015-16, the department unveiled a multi-million dollar facility upgrade that includes two new turf fields. In addition, the new state-of-the-art 14,010 square foot Ianniello Field House recently opened with new locker rooms, new strength and conditioning facilities and a sports medicine component.

For all information regarding Pace University Athletics log on to www.PaceUAthletics.com and follow Pace Athletics on Facebook (T-Bone, Official Mascot of Pace University Athletics), Twitter (@PaceUAthletics) and Instagram (@PaceAthletics).

Members of Long Beach High School’s Life Skills program and the district’s special education program took part in the annual Surfers Healing Surf Camp, held at Lido West Town Beach on Sept. 13. Thanks to professional instructors and volunteers, participants from local communities had the opportunity to experience a sea of peace and possibility.

One by one, students were fitted for life jackets and accompanied by instructors as they made their way out into the water on long boards. They each embarked upon their own unique surfing adventures, in which they took on new challenges and gained self-confidence while riding waves back to the shore.

Members of the Long Beach High School surf team handed out medals with pride and offered encouragement, high-fives and praise to the accomplished beginners.  

Surfers Healing seeks to enhance the lives of children and teens with special needs, specifically those with autism. The organization’s stellar team, coupled with the ocean’s therapeutic effect has been making a difference in the lives of its participants for 17 years. This was one of many one-day Surfers Healing camps held across the nation and was organized in partnership with the Town of Hempstead.

 

Photo Captions:

 

Surf Team: The Long Beach High School surf team provided support by handing out medals, and encouragement.

Group 1, 2: Long Beach students, administrators and faculty members enjoyed a day at the beach during Surfers Healing on Sept. 13.

Group 3: Long Beach High School Principal Jeffrey Myers, students Adem Dibra, Kimberly Flamberg and Alan Evangelista, Long Beach High School Assistant Principal Dr. Andrew Smith and Coordinator of Special Education Peter Russo.

Surfers Healing MS: Long Beach Middle School students Jaiden McCorkle, Cheyenne Ward, Dylan Biddison and Michael Silvia with their teachers at Surfers Healing.

Surfers Healing 1: Luke Gilmore takes a wave to shore.

Surfers Healing 2: Adem Dibra catches a wave.

Surfers Healing 3: All smiles at Surfers Healing.

Surfers Healing 4: Fabrizio Lobaton, Shane Apple and Kimberly Flamberg get ready to surf with help from the LBHS Surf Team.

Surfers Healing 5: Michael Silvia takes coaching from a Surfers Healing instructor.

 

Photos courtesy of the Long Beach School District

In an effort to raise money for those affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, the physical education teachers at Meadow Drive School in the Mineola Union Free School District organized a Hoops for Hurricane Relief fundraiser.

Over the course of the week, students practiced their basketball skills in gym classes and on Sept. 20, participated in four mini-games to raise money. The event culminated with a teachers/staff game and raised more than $1,500 for the cause to date. Once collections have ceased, the funds are intended to directly benefit a school in each area.

 

Photo Caption: Meadow Drive School in the Mineola Union Free School District organized a Hoops for Hurricane Relief fundraiser.

 

Photo courtesy of Mineola Union Free School District

When news broke about the devastation that Hurricane Harvey brought to parts of Texas, Long Beach schools jumped right on board to help those who were affected. Students, staff and families from Long Beach High School, Long Beach Middle School and East, Lido, Lindell and West elementary schools wanted to share with those thousands of miles away the lessons they had learned about unity, kindness, hope, strength and resilience through experiences with Superstorm Sandy.

Through a collaboration between the high school’s English department, Key Club, National Honor Society, Student Organization and Life Skills department, upwards of 1,000 letters have been written by Long Beach students to those who have suffered damage from Harvey. The middle school also got involved, and students in both buildings’ English classes welcomed the invitation to express their encouragement and compassion. Most of them had their own personal stories to tell, with life lessons about the power of working together to rebuild.

“I feel so bad that you had to deal with Hurricane Harvey,” wrote middle school student Bridget O’Driscoll. “Five years ago, Long Beach, New York and all of the East Coast had to deal with Hurricane Sandy. We came together as a community to rebuild Long Beach.”

“I know what you’re going through,” middle school student Kerry Off wrote. “When Sandy hit, I felt I would never make it through everything that had happened. I was heartbroken, but then we rebuilt. I knew everyone was OK no matter how long it took.”

High school student Katelyn Salvato shared, “I hope you know that so many people are willing to help and rebuild your town, just like we did five years ago. Things will get easier; it might take long, but eventually life will go back to normal. I hope all our donations and love make it easier for you in this time.”

The high school is also coordinating a “Battle of the Classes” project, which presents a fundraiser in the form of a friendly and collaborative competition with a unique twist. Each class will receive a donation bin and 1,000 points. For every 25 cents placed in a donation bin, 10 points will be subtracted. The goal is for students to put money in the other classes’ buckets so that their own bucket retains the most points. The class with the highest number of points at the end of the competition will gain points for their school’s Class Olympics, and the donations will be used to purchase grocery store gift cards that will be sent to Texas before the holidays.

Long Beach High School’s Life Skills students are excited to be involved in these efforts as well. They are decorating the donation bins and will help facilitate the activity during weekdays in the building’s commons. The Life Skills students are also running a donation table at the Farmers Market at Kennedy Plaza on Wednesday afternoons to raise money from the community that will be distributed among the classes’ bins.

This endeavor will expand to include the entire district at the annual Homecoming Carnival on Oct. 13, when a “Battle of the Schools” will be held. Each building will be represented with two bins, and attendees can donate tickets to the bin of their choice. The school that raises the most in proceeds will receive a special halftime shout-out during the football game.

The gift card donations and letters will be delivered to a high school in League City, Texas, where Long Beach High School graduate and former faculty member Mike Jiminez currently teaches.

Long Beach Middle School has created a hallway mural that symbolizes Long Beach’s support of Texas. For every dollar donated, a swatch of colored paper is added to help fill in and complete the image. The middle school has another creation in the works — a quilt comprised of students’ inspirational messages and illustrations. Many squares have already been designed and will be patched together to form one heartfelt piece.

Lido School’s students, staff and families went full steam ahead with their outreach efforts during the first few days of school. They organized a donation drive that produced row upon row of brand-new backpacks filled with school supplies, boxes of new socks and pajamas in various sizes, and notes of encouragement. A $1,000 donation from Allstate Insurance is making the delivery possible.

Lindell School’s fifth-graders will be selling bracelets as a fundraiser. The pieces will be red, white and blue and have “We are survivors! Sandy/Harvey” embossed on them. Each bracelet will cost $1 and the proceeds will go directly to an elementary school in the Houston Independent School District. East and West elementary schools are coordinating other efforts to make a difference, such as gift card drives. East’s donations will also benefit families affected by Hurricane Irma.  

The district will share updates on these efforts and more in the upcoming weeks!

 

Photo Captions:

 

Lido 1: John Puglisi, Noah Rossi, Matteo Minkler-Wielstein, Keira Carson, Zoe Pinto, Thomas Gregory, Savannah Barnes and Carlos Sierra Gomez display some of the many backpacks filled with school supplies that Lido donated.

Lido 2: Lido children send love and support to Texas.

Mural 1 & 2: Long Beach Middle School’s National Junior Honor Society, Student Government and Multicultural Club collaborated to create a mural as part of a Harvey fundraiser.

 

 

Photos courtesy of Long Beach Public Schools

Photo Caption: For the third consecutive year, the varsity cheerleading team from Smithtown High School West – joined for the second time by the school’s junior varsity cheerleaders – attended a walk to support Angela’s House. The organization helps care for medically fragile children on Long Island and the team raised $400 for the cause.   

 

Photo courtesy of Smithtown Central School District