Joe DiMaggio Still Supports Students with Learning Disabilities

Joe DiMaggio was a friend and generous supporter of Xaverian High School and was the first person to ever receive Xaverian's highest honor, the Concordia Award, in 1997. DiMaggio died on March 8, 1999, with the honor of being known as "the greatest living baseball player."

Joe played for the New York Yankees baseball team and his nickname was the "Yankee Clipper." How did he get this nickname? In the game of baseball, to 'clip' the ball means 'hit' the ball. everyone knows that Joe DiMaggio was a great hitter! But 'Yankee Clipper' is also the name of a beautiful sailing ship. To the people who watching him play baseball, DiMaggio played as like a sailing clipper ship -- gracefully.

Xaverian's Concordia Award was renamed the Joe DiMaggio Award to memorialize DiMaggio's life-long commitment to the health, educaiton and the well being of America's youth. Dimaggio has an annual award gala in his memory - The Joe DiMaggio Award Gala - a fundraiser for Xaverian High. This is a special program for students with learning disabilities.

The Joe DiMaggio Award's mission, established in 1999, is to memorialize his "lifelong commitment to the health, education and well being of America's youth."

More than 100 young men have graduated from this special initiative and all have gone on to four-year colleges. Because Xaverian is private and tuition driven, all proceeds from the annual Gala benefit its many students. the evening usually always includes a silent auction of rare Joe DiMaggio memorabilia donated by the DiMaggio Estate and Morris Engelberg, Esq.

Earning the Bay Ridge school's highest honor, formerly called the Concordia Award, DiMaggio won it in 1997. The award has since been presented to Dr. Henry Kissinger, Maestro Luciano Pavarotti, former mayor and current presidential hopeful Rudolph Giuliani, television personality Regis Philbin, singer/songwriter Paul Simon, Sopranos star James Gandolfini, CBS Sports commentator Boomer Esiason and NBC Emmy-Award winning sports broadcaster Bob Costas.

This year's May 2009 Joe DiMaggio Award Gala honors Reggie Jackson. This year's Master of Ceremonies is Jim Ryan, the Legendary Television Reporter and Anchorman.

--Rocco Basile

Have you heard About the Developmentally Appropriate Practice Video?

I just discovered the National Association for the Education of Young Children, a group that has been a leading voice in defining, disseminating, and recognizing the best practices in the care and education of children. iot deals with kids that are up to age 8. As you kbnow I review all the latest informaiton on the education of children and put muh of this reearc on my website http://www.roccobasile.net/.

The NAEYC recently released the third edition of its principles and guidelines for teachers and others in the field of early childhood education in 2009. It describes the “Developmentally Appropriate Practice” — that is, teaching practices that ensure that young children learn and develop to their fullest potential.

To listen to the video, click the link below.http://www.naeyc.org/dap/resources1.asp.

In addition, you may want to review Young Children, an award winning peer-reviewed journal published bimonthly by the NAEYC. The magazine's issues are organized around topical clusters that devote attention to issues in the field of early childhood education. The practitioner-based nature of Young Children makes it unique among journals and its award winning status testifies to the publication's excellence.

--Rocco Basile

The Mother Teresa of Sunset Park is Honored

On March 25 Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes honored Children of the City's Joyce Mattera at his third annual Extraordinary Women’s event. In honor of Women’s History Month, Joyce Mattera was recognized for her accomplishments and contribution to the Sunset Park community. As you know, I am on the Board of this fine organization, and my website is devoted to the betterment of children's education.

District Attorney Hynes unveiled a huge calendar, in the lobby of 350 Jay Street, for the month of March with each day dedicated to one of the extraordinary women who were nominated by Brooklyn residents. Hynes bestowed the title of Special Ambassador to Joyce Mattera, formally acknowledged at a ceremony on March 25 in the Ceremonial Court Room at Brooklyn Borough Hall, along with other women.

Children of the City's Executive Director and Founder Joyce Mattera, is lovingly referred to by many as the "Mother Teresa of Sunset Park." She has devoted herself to helping others through service to children and the families of Sunset Park, Brooklyn since 1981. --Rocco Basile