Plainedge Soccer Club Raises Over $13,000 for Kids with Cancer

By Jessica DeStefano

Winthrop-University Hospital's Cancer Center for Kids was the recent beneficiary of Plainedge Soccer Club's generosity. The soccer club, with the help of Verizon Pioneers and Maria Regina Knights of Columbus donated over $13,000 and helped collect an abundance of toys, including a 27-inch television for children living with cancer.

Winthrop's Cancer Center for Kids receives a generous donation for the holidays. Warren Rosenfeld, MD, chairman, department of Pediatrics (back, l.) and Mark Weinblatt, MD, chief, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and director, Pediatric Cancer Program (front row, r.) accept the generous donation on behalf of Winthrop's Cancer Center for Kids. Richard Mallow, charity tournament director (back, center); John Richman, superintendent, Plainedge Schools (back, l.); Vinny Capuano, president, Plaindege Soccer Club (bottom, center); Al Valente, Nassau County Verizon Pioneers (bottom, l.); and Mike Colucci, Maria Regina Knights of Columbus (l., standing) happily present the check for $13, 051 and a mountain of toys.

"The basis of this tournament is to teach children very early on in their lives that it is really important to give back to the community," said Charity Tournament Director Richard Mallow.

The third annual soccer tournament held at Plainedge High School in North Massapequa over Thanksgiving weekend demonstrated the holiday spirit of giving in the community. Eighty-one teams ranging in age from five to nine years throughout the Long Island/Metropolitan area took part in this year's two-week tournament. All participants were required to donate a toy along with the regular tournament fee to participate.

"We chose this charity to support because the proceeds went directly to kids," Mallow said. "100 percent of the proceeds went to the cancer center."

Mallow deemed this year a "banner year" for the tournament, with over $13,000 raised. Last year, $8,000 was raised for the North Shore/University Hospital Children's Center, and $2,500 was donated to Sloane Kettering children's center the year before that. Mallow said that the tournament will be held again next year, with the proceeds going again to Winthrop-University Hospital's Cancer Center for Kids.

"Every kid who played in this year's tournament knew why they were out there," Mallow said. "This was not just about playing soccer. It was about helping sick kids."