Bay Ridge
Poly Prep senior Maria Hatzipetros was honored by the Guild for Exceptional Children as the first Junior Benefactor in the history of the organization at its annual Autumn Gala at the El Caribe in Mill Basin. And now she’s getting a richly deserved Standing O from yours truly to add to her list of accolades.
The giving senior has been volunteering at the Guild since freshman year at Poly Prep, and has now completed more than 400 hours of service.
Aside from her hands-on involvement as a Poly volunteer, Maria has also contributed to the guild through her Girl Scout involvement. Our pal Maria has been a Scout since she was 5 years old. As part of Maria’s Gold award, the highest rank for a Girl Scout, Maria collected art supplies and donated them to the Guild’s preschool. Due to budget cuts, the artistic tots would not have been able to create without the supplies.
Maria is a young lady that values service above all else, and told Standing O, “Service is something that comes from within, it should not be an obligation, but rather a gesture of kindness that makes you feel good about yourself.”
Maria is 100 percent right. Standing O feels great just by giving out a Standing O.
Poly Prep Country Day School [9216 Seventh Ave. at Poly Place in Bay Ridge, (718) 836–9800].
Manhattan Beach
3.8 million thank yous
Congratulations to Kingsborough Community College. The school received a $3.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training, which will help the school expand training programs for workers impacted by foreign trade and unemployment. What a title. Kingsborough was selected to be a part of this initiative because of its continued dedication to building a relevant and resilient workforce.
Kingsborough Community College [2001 Oriental Blvd. at Oxford Place in Manhattan Beach, (718) 368–4705].
Brooklyn Heights
The man of many chairs
Congratulations are in order to Brendan Dugan, president of St. Francis College, on his joining the Board of Directors of Investors Bank. The do-gooding Dugan has served as a volunteer advisor to the non-profit community for eons. Currently he sits on the boards of the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn. Standing O asks, “How many chairs can he occupy at once?” and wishes buddy Brendan well in his newest chairmanship.
St. Francis College [180 Remsen St. between Court and Clinton streets in Brooklyn Heights, (718) 522–2300].
Downtown
March of nominations
Standing O blasts out a hip-hip, hoorah! to Brett Yormark, head of the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center, on his nomination to receive the Corporate Leadership and Sports Leadership award from the March of Dimes. The March of Dimes honors outstanding achievements of men and women in the sports industry.
Standing O buddy Brett has made it his mission to make the team the most accessible, inventive, and fan-friendly team in sports and he has succeeded. Aside from this most recent accolade he was also named to the “Forty Under 40” list by Sports Business Journal and was selected twice to the “40 Under 40” list by Crain’s New York Business. Hey, this Standing O now completes his grand-slam record.
Barclays Center [620 Atlantic Ave. at Flatbush Avenue in Downtown, (917) 618–6700].
