PTA Bestows Honors At Founders Day Celebraton
At the Founders Day celebration on Feb. 24th, the North Babylon PTA honored individuals for their exemplary work on behalf of children in the district. Recipients of the Eileen Martin Unsung Hero Award are Cindy Wood (High School), Joanne Osma and Charrise Boucher (RMMS), Donna Fischer (Belmont), Robin Saliba and Lisa Riccio (MGV), Barbara Nuetzel (DeLuca), Angela Lucchetti (Woods Road), and the Custodial Staff of Parliament Place. The Lee Tatti Volunteer Award was given to Audrey Jacullo, a longtime PTA member who has also served on the Board of Education.
The Eileen Martin Unsung Hero Award and the Lee Tatti Volunteer Award are two spcial awards named after two amazing North Babylon women. Before her sudden death in 1992, Eileen Martin was an Unsung Hero herself who organized the first concession stand at the high school for football games when food had to be prepared at home and set up in the custodial garage. As PTA Council President Joanie Zangerle says, "She worked behind the scenes and never liked to be in the spotlight," but unsung heroes deserve the spotlight. The Lee Tatti Volunteer Award was established in memory of Lee Tatti whose service was legendary in the district before her death in 2004. In fact, the Town of Babylon named her one of the Town of Babylon's "100 Most Inflluential People of the 20th Century."
Adding pomp and pageantry to the occasion was the RMMS Marching Band conducted by Mrs. Pino. They played several selections before Joanie Zangerle and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Aloise both talked about the PTA and its importance to children. Ms. Zangerle pointed out that the PTA has been in existence for 113 years and is the largest volunteer child advocacy organization in the nation. The members of the North Babylon PTA certainly carry the historical banner in their indefatigable advocacy for children and in the many enrichment activities they sponsor in the schools. Congratulations to all the awards recipients and a special thanks to all PTA members for all that you do for North Babylon children!