Friends,
It is important to thank and show appreciation for the people who take time out of their busy lives to volunteer and support those less fortunate. For over 11 years, the Outreach Center has hosted the PAL / First Precinct / Outreach Center Soccer Clinic here in Wyandanch, and many of our volunteer coaches have been with us since the very beginning.
I would like to take this opportunity to personally and professionally thank the following coaches who rush home from work—or come straight from work—to coach more than 100 children every Monday night in the spring in Wyandanch Park:
Bobby Patch and Tom Fiorini (Tom is a board member)—both have been coaching the older boys since year one, each running a game of their own. Tom now lives in Westhampton, but still comes every night. Bobby is a great coach, and the older male players really respect him and his soccer knowledge.
Felianny Taveras—coached for a few years and for years has been supporting the registration Sundays.
Kevin Guenther—runs a Physical Therapy practice in Northport and a few other locations yet makes sure he arrives early to warm up the players and help prevent injuries. He coaches the older girls.
Luke DeBardelaben—arranges his work schedule so he’s available every Monday night. He coaches the older girls.
Mario Fiore—a coach from the very beginning and is big on fundamentals and skills development. The boys and parents love him.
Miguel Rivera—new to coaching but a valuable asset.
Mike DelPercio (board member)—a 10-year coach who coaches the younger boys. (Mike once cut a business trip to London short just to be back in time to coach!)
Mike Ryan—started coaching the first year and has been returning to coach when he can.
Stephanie Carroll—works in Manhattan and somehow manages to get here on time. The older girls love her example, style, and grace.
Tibor Klein and his sons—coaching the young girls. Tibor’s sons were great! Tibor has been a coach for many years.
Valeria Pineda—once a clinic player herself and now a college student, coaches the older girls alongside Stephanie, Kevin, and Luke for years.
The older boys and girls mainly want to play games, while we focus more on skills development with the younger players before letting them play. Parents and siblings cheer from the sidelines, and the entire environment is positive and supportive. We’ve never had a fight or a case of bullying—these kids simply want a safe place to play.
Our season-ending BBQ at the Outreach Center is always a highlight, with every child receiving a medal and a picture taken with an officer from the First Precinct (Police Officer Dara Caramanico-Broyles and Police Officer Nick Schieda). We developed the prints and created a collage and put them in the entrance of the parish hall for the families to take their pictures.
We are also grateful to Rich Schaffer and Tony Martinez, who have been a true constant source of support all these years, ensuring the fields and bathrooms are always ready. Two years ago, Rich even personally funded the season ending Clinic BBQ, over 200 people. Tony makes sure the fields are pristine. Both have visited the clinic, walked the fields, and talked to the players and parents.
Meanwhile, while camp was in full swing this summer, the Outreach Center staff collected school supplies, assembled backpacks by grade and gender, and distributed over 335 full backpacks to families in our community. They are not finished.
Enjoy the remaining days of your summer with your families!
Thank you
