Amateur athletes from across Queens came together on Sunday for a kickball tournament at Elmjack Little League in East Elmhurst. With the support of generous players and donors, the event 
that raised more than $2,000 to support the high-quality pediatric care at St. Mary’s Hospital for Children. The winning team was Zachy’s Dolphins, a team created by friends and family of former St. Mary’s patient Zachy Portnoy who passed away in 2007 after a heroic battle with a life-limiting condition.
“From the moment we arrived at St. Mary’s, our family was offered hope,” said Robin Portnoy, Zachy’s mother and a member of team Zachy’s Dolphins. “We were surrounded with only positive thoughts and were told that when it came to children, anything was possible. They embraced our family and gave us hope when no one else would. We knew Zachy was in the right place, and St. Mary’s proved us right.”
“Today’s kickball tournament was a wonderful way to celebrate the spirit of St. Mary’s Hospital for Children on a beautiful summer day,” said Victoria Falcone, Manager of Strategic Partnerships at St. Mary’s Hospital for Children. “Congratulations to Zachy’s Dolphins for a well-earned win, and thank you to all our players, volunteers and sponsors who made today’s tournament such a huge success.”
In addition to Zachy’s Dolphins, other teams included the Casey Stengel Bus Depot’s “Casey Cares” group, and two teams of St. Mary’s staff and families. Sponsors included Body Armour, Drink Bai, Famous Dave’s, Modell’s, and Big Geyser Inc. The funds raised at this event will allow the team of dedicated professionals at St. Mary’s to continue to provide high-quality care to New York’s sickest children, regardless of a family’s ability to pay.
