Village of Rockville Centre to honor community leader, organization at Mayor's Golf Classic

The 31st annual Mayor’s Golf Classic on Sept. 24 at the Rockville Links Country Club, will pay tribute to the RVC Lacrosse Club and this year’s 2018 Eugene J. Murray Outstanding Citizenship Award recipient, Ellen White.

White, a community leader, entrepreneur and mother, is the creative force behind South Side High School’s Centre Stage program. It was through her experience with Centre Stage that prompted her to co-found Backyard Players & Friends, an inclusive art-based program designed to enhance the social and interpersonal skills for teens and young adults of all abilities. The program provides community enrichment programs in a loving and supportive environment.

In addition, White helped build an outdoor creative play space called Mary’s Backyard. This interactive play space includes elements of music, art, science, literature and theatre to create positive and meaningful experiences for the community at large.

White, whose sons played lacrosse, has also served as president of Rockville Centre Lacrosse and founded the girl’s lacrosse program. Most recently, Ellen organized the village’s Story Walk, a self-directed learning opportunity that encourages families to join with the community and walk together through a story by following a path of pages. Participants can “walk” the story of “The Survivor Tree,” by Cheryl Somers Aubin, which tells the story of a Callery pear tree that endured the terrorist attacks in Manhattan on Sept. 11, 2001.

White has lived in Rockville Centre for over two decades, and is married to Chris White. They have four sons: Tim, Christopher, Ryan, and Terence.

“Like my father, Ellen has paved the way towards greater opportunities in making Rockville Centre a better community through her dedication and compassion, which made her an obvious choice for the award,” Mayor Francis X. Murray said in a statement. “Ellen has been an amazing resource for children with developmental disabilities on the South Shore. We appreciate all she does on behalf of this great village.”

The RVC Lacrosse Club encourages participation in youth lacrosse at all levels of ability and skill by fostering broad-based participation and giving the opportunity to put a lacrosse stick in every hand of the boys and girls of our community in a positive and safe environment. It provides a fun experience that will allow the players to learn the game while growing their athletic ability and learning about teamwork, good sportsmanship and commitment.

“It is a great honor and privilege to honor such an integral part of our community,” Murray said. “Teamwork, sportsmanship, and character are just a few of the qualities the RVC Lacrosse Club instills in our youth. The volunteers and board members’ time and commitment to our youth does not go unnoticed.”

The Golf Classic and accompanying dinner is the primary fundraiser for the Rockville Centre Community Fund. The fund, dedicated exclusively to helping members of the Rockville Centre community, has raised more than $1.6 million in emergency assistance since 1987.

Tickets and sponsorships for the all-day event, as well as journal ads are still available. The donation for breakfast, lunch, cocktails and dinner, as well as a round of golf at the Rockville Links Country Club, is $350. Dinner-only tickets are $125.

For reservations, or for information about sponsorships or journal ads, call Lois Tinghitella at (516) 678-9260.