Play for Peace Sponsors Present Long Island Head Start in Patchogue with $1,000 to Use in Support of Educational Services

Gershow Recycling among Local Organizations That Donate to the Annual Soccer Tournament

On October 11, sponsors of the Ninth Annual Play for Peace/Jugando Por La Paz Soccer Tournament visited Long Island Head Start in Patchogue Village to present Center Manager Lina Ortiz with a check in the amount of $1,000. The money comes from funds donated to the tournament from sponsors, including Gershow Recycling, Bridgehampton National Bank, TriTec Real Estate and Suffolk Transportation Service, Inc.

Play for Peace brings together diverse nationalities within the community for a full day of World Cup-style soccer, with a goal of promoting sports as a way for people from various backgrounds to find common ground. The tournament was first organized in 2009 through the office of then-Legislator Jack Eddington in conjunction with the Patchogue-Medford Youth Soccer League. After Legislator Robert Calarco was elected in 2011, he carried on the tradition.

Monies raised from the event are donated to local organizations, like Long Island Head Start, which provides a creative curriculum to Patchogue students ages three to five and plans to use the donation to purchase educational equipment for the school. As a comprehensive learning environment respectful of all cultures, Long Island Head Start perfectly exemplifies the spirit of the event.

A longtime Play for Peace supporter, Gershow Recycling donated $2,000 to help defray the costs of putting on the soccer tournament, which was held August 12 at the Patchogue-Medford Youth Soccer Complex in Medford.

For more information, call (631) 289-6188.