Third Annual ECC Spirit Showcase Raises Over $3,000 for Make-A-Wish
Selden, N.Y. - Dance teams and cheerleading squads from eight institutions joined together on March 24 to perform in the East Coast Conference’s Third Annual Spirit Showcase. The event raised over $3,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Dana Herlich, a wish recipient and speaker for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, was on hand to kick-off the event that was held in the Brookhaven Gymnasium on the Suffolk County Community College campus in Selden. She told the crowd of over 300 spectators how her wish to travel to London to spend time with family she had never met was granted and how much of an impact a wish makes on the life of a child.
“This continues to be a wonderful event and we are so proud to be part of it,” said ECC Commissioner Dr. Robert Dranoff. “The participation by the dance, cheer and step teams was amazing again and we were very happy to have former wish recipient Dana Herlich with us to give the keynote address, as well as Jake from East Islip, who will benefit from the money raised at the event.”
Although focused on participation from member institutions, for the second straight year the East Coast Conference opened the showcase up to local Long Island squads. Performers included cheerleading squads from Bridgeport, Nassau Community College, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Suffolk County Community College as well as dance teams from Adelphi, Dowling, Molloy, Nassau, Queens, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Suffolk. The Molloy College Lioness Steppers also became the first step team in the event’s history to perform for the crowd.
Through ticket sales, raffles and concessions, the East Coast Conference surpassed their goal of $3,000 to donate to the Foundation.
“Thanks go again to Suffolk County Community College for the use of their gym and especially to SCCC Cheer and Dance Coach Gina Caputo for all her help and support. We also thank our friends at the Suffolk County Make-A-Wish Foundation for helping make this great event a wonderful opportunity for the ECC and all the participants who performed to give back,” stated Dranoff.
To view photos from the event, please click here.