Locals Raise Funds for Rockland Sandy Relief, Newtown (VIDEO)

Lions District 20R-1, which covers Rockland, Northern Westchester and Putnam, hosted a benefit concert at Tappan Zee High School on Sunday, Jan. 13. The Lions clubs is the world's largest service organization made up of local groups that volunteer within their communities. 

At first the proceeds would benefit the Post-Hurricane Sandy Relief efforts in Sandy. However, after the Sandy Hook tragedies in Newtown, the lions clubs decided to donate half of the proceeds to Rockland Sandy Relief and the other half to the Newtown Lions Club. 

This benefit concert featured Norm Hathaway Big Band, which appears throughout the Metro area and has played return engagements at the Iridium on Broadway, “New York’s Best Jazz Club” and recently appeared on Satruday Night Live.

"This was a district idea and I helped put this through fruition," said Caryl Depalma, District governer of 20R-1. "When we got funds from LCIF (Lions Club International Foundation) for Hurricane Sandy relief, we were limited in its use. Having our own disaster relief fund in the district can help more people on a local level in more ways. When I heard of the tragedy in Newtown, I knew (the fundraising) had to go beyond us."

“We’re very grateful for this district’s benefit concert and they’ve been extremely generous, caring and compassionate," said Linda Maggs, District Governor of 23-A, which covers Fairfield and New Haven counties in Connecticut, including Newtown. "The Newtown Lions Club set up its own fund to help those who need counseling in the future, such as families, teachers and especially first responders because they had a terrible time in dealing with what they saw that day.”

The Blauvelt Lions is one of the local clubs in District 20R-1 that had a heavy hand in organizing the benefit concert.

“I want to thank the volunteers from various clubs that helped make this happen. I’m proud to be a Lion and help others. We’re so pleased that we can help the Newtown Lions get counseling help for those in the community,” said Laurie Wohl, president of the Blauvelt Lions. “Tappan Zee Leos came to help us set this up and are volunteering today.”

About a dozen Tappan Zee High School students were on hand volunteering that day. They were from the Tappan Zee High School Leo Club, which is a youth extention of the Lions club.

“We’re raising money through raffles and the bake sale,” said Julie Castrillon, Tappan Zee senior and president of the Leo club. “It’s fun and we enjoy getting together and take an active role in helping the community.”

Local clubs donated the following amounts to the Newtown Lions Club:

• Blauvelt $1,000
• Somers 1,000
• North Rockland 300
• Bedford 500
• Pleasantville 350
• Lewisboro 250
• Croton lions 1,000