East Boys Soccer Plays for Angela's House

East boys varsity soccer has been playing for more than themselves this season as the team is raising money for Angela’s House for each league win.

Money is raised through sponsors, from family members to school faculty and administration. For each win the sponsor donated $10, for each goal $5 was donated, and an additional $5 was donated for a shutout. There ate two or more sponsors for each game.

East coach Mike Menendez, who is also a social studies teacher at East and involved with the school’s leadership program, said he wanted the team to have charitable involvement within the community.

“I’ve heard of different teams or athletes sponsoring different events and I’ve thought about Angela’s House for the better part of six, seven or eight years,” he said. “Why not try to do something for the community for Angela’s House through soccer, using soccer as a vehicle to help children and the boys can have fun doing what they love and they can help others in the process?”

The idea to donate to was meticulously planned, beginning with a meeting with Pat Smith, athletic director for the schools, before anything was said to the boys on the team, parents and Bob Policastro, executive director and founder of Angela’s House.

Policastro was elated once informed of what the team was doing.

“I love it, the thought of kids helping kids … things like this are unique and make the season even more worthwhile I feel,” he said. “I think the kids learn great life lessons with their thinking beyond just the sport.”

Policastro said the money raised would benefit both Angela’s House homes, Smithtown and East Moriches. Angela’s House is currently working on opening a third home in Stony Brook.

Menendez said the team has embraced the idea of helping others through the game they love.

“The boys are very enthusiastic … I think it gives them a little perspective, it’s something that’s in our consciousnesses as a team, we talk about who’s sponsoring Angela’s House, how did we do last game, it’s something the boys are thinking about in relation to the team,” he said.

The team has three regular season games left – a home game Thursday at 4 p.m. against cross-town rivals West, on the road to face North Babylon on Saturday at 10 a.m., and at home against Newfield on Tuesday at 4 p.m.

Menendez said the team would look into raising the donation amount with a playoff berth.