The New Hyde Park Dads’ Clubs’ main purpose is to support the students, teachers and student activities at New Hyde Park Memorial. It’s not now, nor has it ever been, strictly about athletics or football. Last year the Dads’ Club awarded 24 deserving students with scholarships totaling $10,000. They purchase the plaques and awards for the school and the students, as well. The Club isn’t strictly about the school; it is about the community as well. During October the Dads’ Club ran their “Tater’s For Tatas” fundraising event with the proceeds going toward breast cancer awareness and the Susan G. Komen Foundation. With every $2 sale of French fries sold at the Shack, the Club donated a dollar. The dads raised $3,000 for the cause. Last year the dads raised over $1,000 to fight Childhood Cancer at their St. Baldrick’s fundraiser. This year’s St. Baldrick’s event is scheduled for March 15 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the school’s auditorium lobby. You don’t need to shave your head to support the cause, you can make a donation. If the students raise $5,000, Principal Richard Faccio get his head shaved. The Dads’ Club also hosted a walk around the track last year on Lacrosse Day to fundraise for Juvenile Diabetes and JDRF, raising $500. Once the date is confirmed for this year’s Lacrosse Day, the JDRF walk will be put on the schedule. The club is looking to raise more than the year before and said that with the students’ support it will be done.
If you haven’t heard about the Shack or haven’t eaten there, members of the Dads’ Club said “you don’t know what you’re missing.” Nearly every day after school the Shack opens its windows and the aroma of the French fries flow through the air. The French fries may be the top seller, it’s not the only thing on the menu. They serve the hotdogs and hamburgers, as well as specialty burgers like the Hurricane Jose, named after one of the students that help out in the Shack. They have the Mirabile Club, the Pompinator, the Luigi, the Schemburger and the Tommy Diaz to name a few. Not only are things named after the students that invented the sandwich, some of the teachers have made the menu as well, such as The Gagnon, the Milio Meltdown and their biggest sandwich of all, the Faccio. The Dads are always running specials out at the Shack, and members said they hope one day to make it on the TV show “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” with Guy Fieri.
The Dads’ Club said they need more support to continue with their endeavors. Although there are nearly 1900 students in the only about 10 percent have joined the Club. A student membership is $5, and enters students into an opportunity to win one of the yearly scholarships awarded by the club. Fill out the membership application in the school paper and either turn it in at the Shack or at the main office.
