For those of us who attended the 1st anniversary celebration of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ocean County last night’s 10th anniversary event showed just how far the mentoring organization has come. The Metedeconk River Yacht Club in Brick was packed inside and out with people eager to show their support while at the same time meet and greet an All-Star lineup of celebrity guests. In 1998 when we celebrated our first year of existence we just wanted to make sure we had enough people show up so as not to embarrass our guest speaker, TV News Anchor Jack Ford. I say “we” because I’ve been a member of the Board of Directors almost from the beginning.
Ford, who was a standout football player at Point Pleasant Beach High School and later Yale University, was good enough to come back and speak about the growth of the organization and the need for continued support. The recipient of two Emmy Awards during his broadcasting career, the former trial attorney is currently co-hosting “Banfield and Ford: Courtside” on Court TV weekday afternoons. Ford talked about growing up in a single-parent home and the need for mentors and role models, which defines Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Another good friend of the organization is Brick native and hockey standout Jim Dowd. The 38-year old helped the Devils win their first Stanley Cup in 1995 and after spending time with 8 other NHL teams he returned to New Jersey last season. A father of two young boys, Dowd hopes to skate again with the Devils this coming season. Later this month his annual Shoot for the Stars High School All-Star game will be a benefit for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ocean County.
From the football world came Super Bowl champions Tony Siragusa and
Pepper Johnson, who both sported their huge rings which were admired by the crowd. Siragusa, who owns a summer home in Ortley Beach, is a sideline commentator on Fox football broadcasts and a real character. The soft-speaking Johnson helped the Giants win a pair of Super Bowls and is currently a coach with the New England Patriots.
Baseball was represented by former major league pitcher Mark Leiter, who grew up in Berkeley Township but now lives in Toms River. Leiter won 65 games over an 11-year career after leaving Central Regional High School and now instructs young pitchers while also watching his son play for Toms River North.
Billy Nash and Bob Koeppl were the co-chairmen of last night’s cocktail reception which helped raise money and awareness for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ocean County.
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