Atlantis Spreads Holiday Cheer
Atlantis Cricket Club – NY continued its holiday tradition of collecting and distributing toys to those less fortunate children within our community. The year the club collected scores of toys suited for toddlers to teenagers at its annual holiday get together earlier this month, where the only admission requirement to participate in the food, drink and music festivities was one or more new unwrapped toys.
(From left to right) Terrence Sudler, Carlene Selman (CUNY students), Keith Aaron (Atlantis’ Treasurer), Marie Mandara, COPE/GSL Director accepting the toys from Clifford Hamilton (Atlantis’ 2012 Most Promising Player), Renee Stravitz, COPE Job Developer, and Brielle Becker, COPE/GSI Counselor.
The toys were presented to the College Opportunity to Prepare for Employment (COPE) a City University of New York initiative designed to help single parents through college. The program provides information and support services to CUNY students in degree programs who are receiving public assistance or who are parents of a dependent child and fall within 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.
This is the fourth year Atlantis has contributed to COPE holiday toy distribution. In the past the club has made contributions to the Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Pediatric department and the New York City Toys for Tots Marines drive. That program collects toys from various companies, organizations, families, and individuals to provide the needy and underprivileged children of New York City with some holiday cheer.
Atlantis’ president Steve Welcome said, “I was particularly heartened by the turnout and volume of toys collected at this year’s holiday event.” He added, “Atlantis is pleased to help in some small way in bringing a bit of holiday cheer to those less fortunate, especially during these rough economic times. “
Atlantis, now celebrating its 46 anniversary, has a number of other ongoing community initiatives, as part of the club’s motto – Atlantis…more than just cricket! The community oriented programs include a now well-established educational scholarship fund, and are designed to focus on the club’s involvement in community affairs beyond the cricket boundary.
Ms. Marie Mandara, COPE/GSL Director, expressed her appreciation to Atlantis for its continued support of the program’s annual toy drive. Ms. Mandara said, “COPE is delighted to accept the ongoing support of your cricket club to the initiative and we (COPE) look forward to you annual contribution of toys.”
