Yours, Ours, Mine Community Center Inc. (YOM) hosted its first Canine Walk for Youth last Sunday at Wantagh Park. The event, which started at 11 a.m. with a walk, followed by a couple hours of obedience trials, prizes and raffles, was well attended by approximately 60 residents, their families and friends, and of course, their canine companions.

Just beating the afternoon rain, the day also featured contests and demonstrations, courtesy of Bill Saunier of The Happy Canine Company. Saunier, who was on hand with his well-trained German shepherd, demonstrated agility and training exercises to all in attendance.

“We were so lucky that it didn’t rain … It was such a fun event,” said Fritzi Conway, who chaired the walk. “It was very well received, every flyer we put up was picked up.”

Although this was the first Canine Walk hosted by YOM, Conway said that it may become an annual event. She added that success of the event was largely due to the organizations and individuals who provided donations, including Petland Discounts and Petco, both in Levittown, as well as CompUSA of Garden City, who gave a nice donation. In addition, some private residents contributed donations.

“Bill Saunier also did a very nice job,” Conway said. “We had a lot of fun with that.”

All proceeds of the event will benefit youth and child care programs at YOM, including nursery day care, universial pre-K, before and after school child care, 10 week summer full-day child care, recreation program, counseling services and educational programs. Conway explained that next year, if the event is held again, some of the proceeds may be used to help fund the Senior Citizen Alzheimer’s Program.

YOM’s next fundraiser is planned for June 29 – a golf outing to be again held at the Lido Beach Golf and Country Club – one of the organization’s major fundraisers. This will be the ninth annual Golf Classic and will honor Tom and Jean Ward of the Matthew J. Ward Foundation. The cost for the event is $175 per person, which includes green fees, cart, buffet lunch with beer, wine, soda and cash bar and goodie bag. The fee for a foursome is $750, which includes the same items for four golfers plus a Tee Sign Sponsorship. There is a $65 per person fee for lunch only, which includes a buffet lunch with beer, wine and soda and cash bar. Registration is at 6:30 a.m. with a continental breakfast. Shotgun start is at 7:30 a.m.

All proceeds from this event will benefit the participants of YOM’s Nursery Day Care, Before and After School Child Care and Adult Day Care Services. Contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. For more information or a registration form, contact Janet Engelhardt at 796-6633 or Richard DePalma at (212) 827-1348. To donate prizes, contact Frank Mormando at 735-3900.