Friday, November 6, 2026
The Grenville Baker Boys & Girls Club celebrated the donors, volunteers, alumni and staff members who help sustain its programs during its annual Leaders Circle Reception Wednesday night, recognizing several individuals for their longstanding contributions to the organization and the community.
The annual event featured the presentation of several awards, including inductions into the club’s Hall of Fame, recognition of outstanding volunteers and an award honoring a dedicated staff member. It also featured food stands from multiple local businesses, who volunteered their time and dishes to support the organization.
“Tonight, we’re here to celebrate you and many in the many ways you help us to serve our children here at the Boys and Girls Club every day,” Melissa Rhodes, the club’s executive director, said. “Your contributions make it possible for us to serve our community’s children to the highest standard and give them the tools they need to grow into exemplary citizens.”
The evening’s Hall of Fame ceremony, presented by club Board Chairman Colin O’Donnell, recognized Henrietta and Mike Marigliano, Arthur “Artie” Stein Jr. and Randy Waskawic for their contributions to the organization.
The Mariglianos, longtime Locust Valley residents, have been involved with the club for decades. Their son Jonathan joined the organization in the late 1970s, inspiring Henrietta to become a volunteer in the late 1980s. The couple subsequently devoted countless hours to the club’s annual clothing sale, an event that raised more than $100,000 in some years to support local children and families.
Stein, a longtime Locust Valley businessman and owner of Country Plaza Deli, colloquially known as the Million Dollar Deli, was inducted posthumously. His daughter Chloe accepted the honor on behalf of the family, remembering her father as both a larger-than-life personality and someone who regularly performed acts of kindness for others.
“He was fun, energetic, exciting, but most importantly he was there when people needed him most, and that’s what the Boys & Girls Club is to its kids,” Stein said. “As a Boys & Girls Club kid myself, I know how much that means to people.”
The final Hall of Fame honoree, Waskawic, was recognized for his connection to the club dating back to 1956. A former participant in the organization’s Pratt Camp, a Canadian summer camp program run by the club, he spent six consecutive years at the camp and has since worked to preserve its historical documents and photographs.
Waskawic also received the club’s Wall of Fame award, joining fellow Hall of Fame inductees Bobby Cariso and John Evans.
Reflecting on the camp’s influence, Waskawic said the experience transformed the lives of many participants.
“About 375 people were part of the Pratt’s Camp program, and most of them, like me, would say their time in the wilderness of New Brunswick transformed their lives in wonderful and lasting ways,” he said. “I always keep in mind it was the munificence, the dedication, and the work of the previous Hall of Fame inductees and others that created the opportunities that ultimately led me here tonight, and for them, and the Grenville Baker Boys & Girls Club family, and all that they’ve given me, I am forever grateful.”
The club also presented the Robert Gardner Award to Edward “Ted” von Briesen, recognizing more than three decades of service. Von Briesen joined the board of directors in 1992, served on its operations committee and as board treasurer, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011. Although unable to attend, his sister, Janet, shared remarks highlighting his commitment to providing children with the opportunities and support he had received growing up.
Ellen and John McMillin received the McDonald Family Volunteer Award for their decade of service. Ellen assists children with homework in the club’s education center, while John coaches the third- and fourth-grade boys’ basketball league.
Ellen described volunteering as a mutually rewarding experience.
“I think every volunteer knows that what you give, you get back so many times more,” she said, “and that is most certainly true for the two of us.”
The evening concluded with the William “Bill” Hinckley Award, presented to program support specialist Shirley Jimenez for her dedication to children, families and colleagues during her three years with the club.
Rhodes praised Jimenez for creating a welcoming environment for everyone entering the building, calling her a reflection of the organization’s values.
In closing, Rhodes emphasized the importance of community support in sustaining the club’s mission.
“A strong club doesn’t happen by accident,” Rhodes emphasized. “It happens because of a strong community.”
