46 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • FEBRUARY 2022
PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT
RALLY FOR HUNGER
BY JENNA BAGCAL
After sustaining a tennis injury, a junior
at Friends Academy in Locust Valley
helped organize a pickleball tournament
to raise thousands of dollars for
a local food bank.
Alistair Wright created the Rally for
Hunger tournament and raised $4,500
for North Shore Soup Kitchen’s NOSH
program, which delivers weekly food
supplies to more than 500 families in
Bayville, Glen Cove, Roslyn, Locust
Valley, and Sea Cliff .
In September, the avid tennis player
and member of his school’s tennis
team tore a ligament in his ankle
while playing the sport. Wright said
that he “wanted to make good use of
my time” while recovering from his
injury. He reached out to school faculty
members Erin Nolan and Rachael
Arredondo, who told him about a fire
at NOSH’s former headquarters that
caused the program to lose essential
equipment and food.
“I chose NOSH as the beneficiary for
a fundraising event because through
other volunteer work I had learned
how widespread food insecurity is,”
Wright said.
The student chose pickleball since it
combined elements of tennis, badminton
and ping-pong; is played indoors
or outdoors on a badmintonsized
court; and “can be played by
anyone at any age.”
Wright collaborated with fellow
tennis team member Daniel Duke
and school friends Austin Notaris,
Russell Notaris, and Quinn Dougherty
to build a plan and identify resources.
The student contacted the
head of Robbie Wagner’s Tournament
Training Center in Glen Cove, who
agreed to donate his training venue
for the tournament.
Wright then created a Rally for Hunger
website, designed fl yers, spoke at
churches to drum up awareness, and
obtained sponsorships from local
businesses.
“I’m so impressed that such young people
as Alistair and his Rally for Hunger
team recognized the need and stepped
up with such a well-thought-out and
-executed event,” said NSSK/NOSH
board member and fundraising chair
Renee Swanson.
She added that the organization was
grateful “at the number of people who
have come forward to recognize the importance
of our work and to raise funds
for us.”
This story fi rst appeared in the Queens
Courier.
Photo by Renee Swanson, NSSK/
NOSH board member and fundraising
chairman
Congratulations to
ROBERT CIATTO
ACLD’s Executive Director for
being named a “Healthcare Hero”
by Schneps Media.
This recognition celebrates
the contributions and dedication
of the healthcare community
from New York to Montauk,
spotlighting excellence and
applauding innovation.
Thank you for your dedication
to the people ACLD supports.
www.acld.org
ROBERT CIATTO
ACLD Executive Director
/www.acld.org
/LONGISLANDPRESS.COM
/www.acld.org
