Last Saturday evening, February 4, 2023, the Rockaway Graybeards held their 21st Annual Dinner Dance at the Rockaway Hotel. The event saw over 250 Graybeards, honorees and guests gather for the evening’s festivities.
Acting as emcee for the evening, as is the organization’s tradition, was current Graybeard President Tommy Morgan. Tommy in his opening remarks recapped some of the great work the Graybeards have done in the past year, from helping out neighbors in their time of need, organizing food drives and fun runs, feeding hundreds at Thanksgiving, to building a wheelchair ramp, helping fire victims recover from their experiences, sending a young boy battling cancer for the second time to a Yankee Game with his family for a fond memory and repose from treatments and, of course, their laudable Soldiers to Disney initiative, that saw the 96th family of a wounded warrior sent to Disney for a well-deserved vacation; it was a very success filled year of 2022 for the organization.
Following his opening remarks Tommy presented the Don “DH” Hart Memorial Award to Mrs. Lynda Collins. Lynda, much like DH over the years, has donated hundreds of hours of her free time to many organizations throughout the Rockaway peninsula. Aside from her great work with LAOH Division 25 and The Knights of Columbus Columbiettes she has helped out the Graybeards, Knights of Columbus, AOH Division 21, St. Francis de Sales Parish and School, St. Rose of Lima Parish and School, St. Edmund’s Prep High School and many other charitable causes. Along with her family, husband Kenny, daughter Grace and son Thomas by her side and helping her out in any way she needed, Lynda has raised much needed money for all those organizations. In her acceptance speech Lynda thanked them all and had the following to say: “I want to thank the Hart family and the Graybeards for this honor. It’s very easy to step up and help out an organization like this, we’ve taught each other the importance of kindness, community and friendship, never forget where you came from”!
Everyone MUST Register by Monday, August 15, 2022.
There will be No Late Registration.
Registration is $50 per player.
Each team must check in 30 minutes before their game time.
Registration Forms can be picked up at St. Francis Summer Classics or you can download the PDF here,
Registration forms and fees can be mailed to the Graybeards office at129-04 Newport Ave (side door).
By Steve Stathis, in The Wave, Rockaway's Newspaper since 1893
The Graybeards was founded in November 2001 with a simple yet effective mission statement: “to help our neighbors in their time of need.” We’ve been busy ever since.
On October 29th, 2012, Superstorm Sandy ravaged our community with unspeakable damage from floods and fires. When the storm cleared, we found that everyone, including the Graybeards, were in need.
Three weeks after Sandy hit, one of the Graybeards who works for NBC encouraged news anchor Brian Williams to visit Rockaway for a firsthand look at the devastation. After the tour, Mr. Williams said that he would be interested in doing a story on the efforts of the Graybeards.