After 32 years of leasing space from churches, temples and school districts on Long Island, Little Village, a school for developmentally disabled infants and children, will permanently relocate to the former Massapequa General Hospital July 1, 2002.

"We are just delighted to become a part of the Massapequa family and the Town of Oyster Bay, and thrilled to relocate there," said Dr. Barbara Feingold, co-founder and director of the school, along with Dr. Caryl Bank.

The dream of a permanent facility was made a reality by the generosity of Amy and Horace Hagedorn, who donated $1 million to Little Village. In their honor, the school will be called the Hagedorn Little Village School.

To further recognize their generosity, Little Village recently awarded the Hagedorns with the 2001 Golden Rule Award at their thirteenth annual Golden Rule Award Luncheon at Crest Hollow Country Club. The award, given to those who exemplify the tenets of the Golden Rule, was presented to the Hagedorns by Edward Miller, honorary luncheon chairman and Little Village's first honoree in 1987.

"Amy Hagedorn, a gardener by avocation, and Horace Hagedorn, founder of Miracle-Gro, live by the gardeners' creed: You can't just keep taking all the good stuff out of the earth; you've got to put something back. Through their philanthropic gift, the Hagedorns have done just that," Feingold said.

Currently, Little Village is leasing a building from the Bellmore School District. However, renovations are well underway for a July 2002 opening. Small rooms at the hospital are being converted to larger classrooms, the operating room is being turned into a gymnasium, and the asbestos is in the process of being removed. Money raised at the luncheon will be used to help outfit the new classrooms, said luncheon chairman Louis Cassara of JP Morgan.

"Of course, more funds are needed to complete this enormous project," said Feingold. "especially in light of anticipated cutbacks in the New York State budget this year for non-profit groups due to the extraordinary expenses incurred as a result of the World Trade Center Disaster."

Tuition-free Little Village provides therapy and education to children with a wide range of cognitive delays, learning disabilities, autism, speech/language impairments, orthopaedic impairments or multiple handicaps. Funding is provided by New York State, Nassau County, local school districts, federal funds, Garden City Community fund and voluntary monies. Approximately 210 students currently attend the school.

Anyone wishing to make a contribution to Little Village should send a tax-deductible donation to: Little Village School Building Fund, 2750 South St. Marks Ave., Bellmore, NY 11710.