Men’s Lacrosse Provides Smiles To Children At Cohen Children’s Medical Center

New Hyde Park, N.Y. – With handcrafted games in tow, a handful of the NYIT men’s lacrosse team donated their time Tuesday evening, hosting a carnival for the children at North Shore LIJ’s Cohen Children’s Medical Center. The Center, most recently ranked by US News & World Report in the top 50 nationwide in nine of 10 pediatric specialties, opened their doors to NYIT to spend an afternoon with some of the patients.

From mini golf to a football toss, members of the team created, by hand, nearly 15 different activities for the children and their families to enjoy. “Yesterday’s carnival for the sick children at Cohen Children’s Medical Center was one of the more powerful events that we have been a part of,” commented Head Lacrosse Coach Bill Dunn. “The team as a whole, spent timeless hours, preparing, shopping for materials, building games, painting and assembling them for the children. To see the smiles on all their faces as the carnival went on, was every bit worth the time that was put in preparing for the event.”

Last year, members of the tennis program participated in the same type of event at the medical center and several student-athletes from the lacrosse expressed interest in attending again.

“Giving back is important, because these kids may not be able to experience a carnival, due to their hospital restrictions,” agreed seniors Jon Lynott and Shawn Murphy. “We hope that there are more opportunities such as this to give back to the community.”

“Day in and day out they [patients] are stuck in a hospital bed, and one can only imagine that it gets very lonely and hopeless,” said junior Tom Hughes. “To be able to put a smile on these little kids faces really hit home.”

The Bears open up their 2016 season when they host Pace University at President’s Stadium on Saturday, February 13 at noon.