By VICTORIA A. CARUSO
In 1991, Merokean Phil Bank celebrated his birthday a little differently than usual. Instead of throwing a huge party, Mr. Bank got together with several close friends and family members and played softball.
Today, what started out as a recreational event marking one man's birth date has turned into an annual event that has raised more than $10,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. Each year, Mr. Bank asks each of his 20 to 30 "guests" at this Softball Classic to offer a donation to the JDF.
Now in its ninth year, the game is held in conjunction with the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation's Annual Walk to Cure Diabetes. This year, both the Softball Classic and the JDF Walk are set to take place on Sunday, September 24, at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow.
The idea for the softball game first arose when Mr. Bank's wife, Debra, wanted to celebrate his 35th birthday. "I wasn't really excited about an actual party," said Mr. Bank, "but since most of my friends had been ball players, I thought they might enjoy getting together for a game."
Enter Mr. Bank's close friend Dr. Brian Katz of Merrick, an East Rockaway-based chiropractor and Softball Classic participant. Dr. Katz's daughter, Lauren, now 10, was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at age 1. Mr. Bank wanted to help. So, he decided to turn the softball game into a fund-raiser for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.
"He approached us about donating money to a charity for Lauren, and we told him about the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation," said Dr. Katz. The rest is history.
Common in both adults and children, diabetes is a disease in which the body has either stopped producing insulin entirely or the insulin produced by the body no longer works properly. According to Dr. Katz, a person with diabetes must always "monitor what they eat, take multiple injections of medication and test blood several times a day to test blood sugar."
Diabetics rely on daily insulin injections (four per day for Lauren) to survive. There is no cure for diabetes; the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation is dedicated to finding one. Established in 1970 by parents of children with diabetes, JDF is the world's largest non-profit, non-governmental agency sponsoring diabetes research. JDF officials say they hope to discover a cure for diabetes within 10 years.
Dr. Katz said, "The JDF has made finding a cure its single purpose. All their funds go to allocating money for grants towards research for a cure."
Now, more than $105 billion is spent each year in health-related costs to help the more than 16 million people in the United States suffering from diabetes. As of June, 2000, the JDF had contributed $75 million to diabetes research and anticipates providing $200 million per year by 2003.
Mr. Bank said he has accepted donations for the JDF at the Softball Classic for as little as $10. "It is voluntary, and people can donate what they wish," he said. Last year's classic brought in an estimated $1,700, the most ever.
Victoria Castellano, special events coordinator for the Long Island Chapter of JDF, said of third-party fund-raisers such as Mr. Bank's Softball Classic: "These events are perfect for people who can't participate in the walks or want to do something different to raise money. Those who participate can feel good knowing what they are doing is going to the foundation and its research. It's a fun day, and it raises money."
Merrick resident Mitch Simon, who has taken part in the softball game many times over the years, said of Mr. Bank: "He goes out of his way to organize the softball games. Not only are they a good time, but the games are beneficial in making people aware about juvenile diabetes and the importance of finding a cure."
Mr. Bank and his wife, Debra, have made Merrick their home since 1987. Mr. Bank is an executive recruiter for Kforce.com, a professional staffing firm in Manhattan, and Ms. Bank is a nurse at the Old Mill Road School in North Merrick. They have two children, Lindsay, 14, and Andrew, 11.
Softball Classic, Walk for a Cure
The Ninth Annual Softball Classic benefiting the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation is scheduled for Sunday, September 24, at Eisenhower Park, East Meadow. The game will be begin at 9:30 A.M. in Ball Field #6, with parking in Field #8. For more information, one may call Phil Bank at (212) 973-2000.
The Juvenile Diabetes Foundation's Walk to Cure Diabetes will also take place at Eisenhower Park on Sunday, September 24. Registration will begin at 9 A.M., and the walk will start at 10 A.M. For more information on the JDF Walk, one may call Victoria Castellano, special events coordinator, Long Island Chapter, at (631) 951-9769.
