The Kiwanis Club of Manhasset-Port Washington Foundation and sponsor Merill Lynch North Shore Complex held their annual Summer Golf Outing on July 26 at North Shore Golf Club. The day began overcast with a slight mist but the sun shone through for an exciting day. The golfers who participated witnessed an extraordinary sight of a hole-in-one on the 10th hole by Master Kwon of Senator Elaine Phillips’ foursome. The shot, a masterful stroke with a five iron, on the 154 yard hole made it over the sand pit and rolled right into the pin. The golf was great but the day was about so much more.
It was much more than a dream of John Lalena’s wife Eleanor to procure pediatric trauma kits after the downing of Avianca Flight 52 on Long Island’s North Shore in 1990. That accident made it very obvious that there was a lack of pediatric emergency equipment on the responding ambulances. Her dream is very much a reality now and is continued by her dedicated husband John Lalena each year since her death.
Eleanor had called a meeting at the Port Washington Yacht Club of her friends and neighbors including past international president of Kiwanis, Anton “Tony” Kaiser, Dr. Joseph Stambouly, head of pediatric critical care at North Shore University Hospital. She proposed the formation of an organization to raise monies, purchase and distribute pediatric emergency trauma kits, including child size body boards. This group of dedicated individuals recognized the need to improve the outcome for children who might be involved in serious accidents. The foundation has during the past 26 years donated more than 400 pediatric trauma kits throughout the greater New York area.
This year Plandome Civic Association President William Collard and Plandome Fire Department First Deputy Chief Paul Becker were on hand to receive the lifesaving equipment. Becker’s family is a third generation firefighter in the Incorporated Village of Plandome.
The event featured extraordinary raffles including a Smart TV, golf foursomes, smart watches and incredible gifts with more than $1,000 cash for the 50/50 raffle. To make a donation to the foundation, send a check to Kiwanis Club of Manhasset Port Washington Foundation, P.O. Box 853 Plandome, NY 11030.
