Elmont PAL receives donation in Paul Sapienza’s name

The New York Racetrack Chaplaincy donated $1,000 to the newly formed Elmont Police Activity League on Saturday in the name of late community leader Paul Sapienza. The money is intended to help defray the costs of registration to the league for local children.

The donation was raised by clergy at the Belmont Racetrack and given through the Paul Sapienza Fund. Sapienza, a longtime president of the Elmont Chamber of Commerce and owner of Sapienza Bakery, died on Dec. 28, 2020. He was 68.

“The Sapienza family has been a stakeholder in this community forever,” Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said. “When Paul passed the PAL was just starting up. It’s the first PAL in the Elmont community and they wanted to do a scholarship in someone’s name for the program.”

PALs are privately funded organizations designed to teach leadership skills and provide mentorship opportunities to local children through year-round athletic programs. Upon its inception, the Elmont PAL received $25,000 through Nassau County police forfeitures for operations, according to Ryder, but must rely on donations, registration fees and fundraisers to continue.

Sapienza’s son, Andrew, thanked the group for the donation.

“He loved this community more than anything else to have this in his honor would make him so happy,” he said. “I’m just grateful to be a part of this great town and great community and very happy to help out whenever we can.”

Police officer and Elmont native Eaton Farrell, who responded to the 911 call and performed CPR on Sapienza the night of his death, said Sapienza was a staple in the neighborhood and aspired to be like him.

“I wish some day I could be as generous as Paul to the community,” he said.