RSS 2.0 FeedApril 21, 2011, Featured Articles, Merrick Life
Kids get a festive kick out of PAL soccer
Merrick PAL reaches out in support of local charities.
Pal Soccer Festival: Above, from left, are Skip Haile, Margaret Reed, David Levine, county Legislator Dave Denenberg, Craig Levine (Forever 9/Robbie Levine Foundation), Ross Coleman (Coleman Country Day Camp), Merrick PAL President Rob Samuels, George Shaw, County Police Officer Ed Serrao, Diane Seaman (representing the Chordoma Foundation), René Aversa-Heeley, Aidan Heeley, Kayla Heeley and Sal Finelli (not shown) with festival participants.
by David Levine
Merrick PAL Soccer recently held its Second Annual Charity Soccer Festival to benefit several local charities. Over 120 young Merrick athletes competed in the day’s soccer action, but the day was about a lot more than just competition.
“Merrick PAL started this festival to welcome spring to Merrick each year with a message that’s paramount to the PAL mission – the importance of community,” said Festival Director Skip Haile.
“What makes the Merrick PAL soccer program so special is that so many of our volunteer coaches and players just love joining with community leaders and merchants for a day of fun and giving back to the community. Everyone who is a part of this festival leaves feeling rewarded and with a big smile on their faces.”
The festival raised $2,000 for important causes, which have a strong personal connection with the Merrick community, and which demonstrate the PAL Soccer Program’s commitment to service and civic duty.
One of the many teams participating.
Charities benefiting from the festival include Forever 9/the Robbie Levine Foundation, the Chordoma Foundation and the Heely Family, benefiting the family of a Merrick PAL volunteer soccer coach whose life was tragically cut short.
The day would not have been possible without the generous donation of the fantastic Coleman Country Day Camp facilities. All the kindergarten, first- and second-grade soccer players who participated enjoyed playing safe, fun soccer on the state-of-the-art artificial surfaces.
“The Coleman facilities are great, and the young players feel like professionals when they get to take advantage of facilities like these,” said Mr. Haile. All participants left the field with medals and commemorative soccer balls and T-shirts, as well as the great soccer memories.
Throughout the festival, community support was the message of the day in a variety of ways. Snacks at the festival were donated by Merrick Bagel Café. Other donations were provided by Merrick PAL’s Developmental and Travel Soccer Program training partner, Manfred Kapper’s Kapper Soccer organization. Other generous support was provided by county Legislator David Denenberg and Winhall Media.
However, the most powerful testament to the nature of the Merrick PAL Soccer community was the dedication to the spirit of community service shown by the program’s more experienced players.
Over 60 volunteers ranging from parents, coaches, travel players and brothers and sisters helped serve as game officials, game coordinators, and other volunteer roles throughout the festival, which made the day such a success-further demonstrating why the Merrick community puts family first.
Merrick PAL thanks these special young people for giving their time and energy towards making the festival a success, and for allowing Merrick’s young athletes to get a head start on their Spring 2011 soccer season.
