Lee foundation closes in on $600K of charitable giving

By Robert Mayer Special to The Citizen

If you ask people around Berlin what the Ryan T. Lee Foundation does, many would likely point to the charity golf tournament it hosts at Timberlin which is followed by dinner at the Aqua Turf. But the golf tournament is only one of the foundation’s annual fundraising efforts.

Dedicated to honoring the enduring spirit of Ryan Lee, the non-profit actively seeks out opportunities to make a difference in the lives of others.

Lee died in 2009 from injuries suffered when he was hit by a car in Brooklyn near his college, Long Island University. Lee was a star golfer and basketball player at Berlin High School, and continued his golf career at LIU.

Lee is survived by his father Dan, his mother Teresa and his sister Amanda.

“We ran the golf tournament that first year because his friends John McNair and Tim Cote refused not to,”

Dan Lee said before the start of the 13th Annual Ryan Lee Golf Classic, held Friday, Aug. 4. “Then we had to figure out what we really wanted this thing to be. What did we want the foundation to be. We asked [board mem- ber] Jim McNair to get involved because he was the president of the Boys Club and other organizations and knew how to build a nonprofit. Then we had to decide who we were going to give the money to and what our mission was going to be. None of that was easy. And the whole time, we were still grieving Ryan’s loss. But, I can say for me, it was helpful because it gave me and our family purpose and something to look forward to.”

The foundation’s board of directors is made up of Dan Lee, Jim McNair, Rob Josephson, Mike Rugens, John McNair, Tim Cote and Mark DiLoreto, and each brings a different skill set to the table.

“I got on board a few years ago because I’m retired and thought it was a great way to help out,” DiLoreto said. “I now feel like I am part of a family here. I have a whole new group of family members and what they do daily is nothing short of a miracle.”

Here are some examples of the foundation’s work:

On or near Ryan’s birthday in July, a parade of volunteers come together to hold a food drive to re-stock the Berlin Food Pantry.

July and August are two of the toughest months for the pantry, so the timing of the drive is perfect. However, the weather could not have been much worse for this year’s drive, held on July 16.

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Run/walk event

St. Paul Parish in Kensington is hosting a run/walk event Saturday, Aug. 12. Expect travel restrictions from approximately 4:45 to 6:30 p.m. Alling Street, High Road, Hart Street, Percival Avenue and Main Street will be designated "one way" in the area of the event. Road cones will be placed on the centerline. There will be one lane for traffic and one for race participants. Alling Street will be closed in front of Saint Paul Parish school/church. There will be a barricade and detour for High Road at Glen Street.

Monthly meeting

The Berlin Democratic Town Committee’s monthly meeting will be held Thursday, Aug. 17, 7 p.m., at the Italian Independent Political Club, 16 Harding St. Prior to the meeting, there will be a meet and greet at 6:30 p.m.; Democratic constituents are encouraged to attend to learn about important town issues and how to get involved. For more information about the Berlin DTC, individuals should contact the group at berlindemocrats@gmail.com or P.O. Box 93, 62 Kensington Road, Berlin, CT 06037.

Berlin DTC

The upcoming municipal elections provide an opportunity to elect leaders who will listen. Help the Berlin Democratic Town Committee with that mission, and make Berlin an even better place to live and work. For more information about the Berlin DTC, individuals should contact the group at berlindemocrats@gmail.com or P.O. Box 93, 62 Kensington Road, Berlin, CT 06037.

Commissioners wanted

Established in 2002, the Commission for Persons with Disabilities is charged with serving as an advisory board to the Town of Berlin for the enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act and assisting the community with meeting its responsibilities for residents with disabilities. The Commission for Persons with Disabilities meets on a bimonthly basis.

Book sale

The East Berlin Library hosts an ongoing used book sale. The library, located at 80 Main St., in the fire house building, is open Monday and Thursday, 3 to 7 p.m.

Museum program

Connecticut's Summer at the Museum program enables children to receive free admission at dozens of museums across the state, including historic house museums, sites and societies, history, art and children’s museums, science centers, arboretums/botanical gardens and zoos, and others. The full list of participating museums is available at ctvisit.com.

Drive-In movies

The 2023 summer season at the Southington Drive-In runs every Saturday through Sept. 9. Admission is $20 per carload and $5 for walk-ins, cash only. Gates open at 6 p.m, with the films beginning after sunset.

Wall of Honor

The Berlin Veterans Commission’s “Veterans Digital Wall of Honor,” located in Town Hall, is dedicated to “All Who Proudly Served and Sacrificed to Protect Our Country.”

Berlin residents and their immediate family, past and present, who have served or are currently serving can be put up on the wall. Contact Peter Galgano at petergalgano@ comcast.net or 860-604-7258.

Tip line

In response to growing complaints of a spike in so-called street takeover events, the FBI rolled out a tip line for residents to report instances of mass gatherings in parking lots and roadways. Residents looking to report a street takeover are encouraged to call 1-800CALL-FBI and select the “Connecticut Street Takeovers” option, or visit fbi.gov/cttakeovertips.

Marines sought

The Marine Corps League, Hardware City Detachment, New Britain CT is actively looking for new members. You do not have to live in New Britain to be a member.

The Hardware City Detachment meets the first Wednesday of the month, 6:30 p.m., at the Berlin VFW, 152 Massirio Dr. For more information, contact Sal V. Sena Sr. (860614-6188, 4mermarine69@gmail.com) or Al Urso (860-747-0677, alurso@cox.net).

Berlin GOP

Registered Berlin Republicans: Do you want to make a difference in your community? The Berlin Republican Town Committee is looking for volunteers to serve on local boards, commissions and in elected offices. If interested, send an email to info@ berlingop.org.

Preservation CT

Preservation Connecticut is a statewide nonprofit historic preservation organization, established in 1975 by a Special Act of the Connecticut General Assembly as the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation. Visit preservationct.org.

Wreath-laying

Wreaths Across America is a nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-lay-