St. Pat’s Parade gives $51K to charities

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The parade that cares and shares did just that as the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee handed out awards and donations at Kasey’s Kitchen and Cocktails last Thursday, including $51,000 for three charities.

Each year the parade raises money for three charities — one local, one national and one Irish. This year’s charities were the Katie McBride Foundation, which helps children with cancer; the Hance Family Foundation, which promotes girls’ self-esteem; and the Dublin Children’s Pilgrimage, which brings special needs children from Dublin to Lourdes, France. The parade donated $17,000 to each of the charities.

“The validation that was given not just to me and [my wife] Jackie but our entire organization — it almost goes beyond the $17,000,” said Warren Hance. “I just can’t thank you enough.”

Mike Cosgrove and Bonnie Dreska, president and vice president of the parade committee, presented parade Grand Marshal Bob Williams with a framed poster, framed pictures from the parade, a DVD of photos from the year’s events, and citations from Town of Hempstead Councilman Anthony Santino and state Assemblyman Brian Curran.

“I had no idea how overwhelming this whole thing was going to be,” said Williams. “By the time I started up Maple Avenue, we had had a great, great time. But when you start up Maple Avenue and go all the way up between the flags and under the American flag — it’s something that I will remember my entire life. I can honestly thank each and every one of you.”

Jackie Kerr and Margaret McGuire presented silver plates to parade marchers, which included a new award, “Best Youth Group,” which was won by the Girl Scouts.

Better Home Health Care won “Best in Parade.” They marched with 100 people, a brass band and giant cutouts of Williams’ head.

“This group had me scared for six weeks before,” said Williams. “All they kept saying was ‘We have something special.’ And when I turned the corner at the end of the parade and saw myself going down all large… It was unbelievable.”

Aisha Belgrave, an alumna of Molloy College, won the poster contest — her fourth. Bill Takes won the 50/50 raffle.

Next year’s parade — the twentieth — will be held on March 19. To date, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade has raised $929,000 for 58 charities. “We are marching towards that million-dollar goal,” Cosgrove said.