Port Washington Youth Activities is proud to announce the induction of three new members into its Hall of Fame on the night of Friday, June 13, at the North Hempstead Country Club in Port Washington.

In conjunction with its 18th annual fundraising dinner/dance, PYA will honor Thomas McNamara and Joseph Gil as key volunteer contributors to the organization, and Todd Higgins as a former PYA athlete - each of whom in his own ways have helped establish and grow the organization since its inception in 1963.

Tom McNamara served as PYA president in 2004 and 2005, but his first involvement with PYA was as a girls basketball coach for four years, then as a commissioner for eight years for the boys basketball program. In addition to basketball, Tom served as flag football league commissioner for two years, deputy football commissioner for fourth- and fifth- grade tackle football for two years, and as baseball commissioner for two years.

Tom joined the PYA Board of Directors in 1996. In his 12 years on the board he has served on various committees, including legal and finance, special events, fundraising, disciplinary, and bylaws, and was involved in fundraising for the renovation of Lions Field.

Joe Gil was responsible for recruiting Tom as a PYA director. He first became involved in 1992 when after signing up his daughter during the first year of PYA girls basketball, he became the first commissioner of that program. He was recruited and elected the next year as PYA Director, and by 1995, was elected to treasurer, a position he holds to this day. He has also been a commissioner of boys basketball, flag football, and helped coach girls softball and lacrosse.

Todd Higgins is one of the finest lacrosse players and athletes to come out of Port Washington. Todd participated in PYA during the 1980s, first in baseball and later in lacrosse. At Paul D. Schreiber High School, Todd excelled in football, basketball and lacrosse, was a two-time All-County football player and a two-time All-American Lacrosse player. He helped lead the Vikings to the 1990 Nassau County Championship, where he was named the game's Most Valuable Player. During high school, Todd was also a two-time member of the Long Island Empire State Lacrosse team.

After high school, Todd attended Princeton University, where he was a four-year starter on the men's lacrosse team and a member of two national championship teams.

On the night of June 13, these new inductees will join other hall of fame members, such as Chris Avazis, Jimmy Cosolito, Gene Sheridan, Marty Bergin, and Nick DeMeo, as past PYA honorees. The dinner will kick off with a cocktail hour at 7:30 p.m, dining and dancing from 8:30 p.m. to midnight, and a silent auction and raffle prizes, too. The price is $125 per person (including open bar) in advance and is tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. A souvenir journal will also be published. Please mark your calendars now, and direct any inquiries and reservations to Ron Henderson, PYA executive director at 944-7921, or the Arena Sports Center at 767-5108.