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Vol. 26 No. 38
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Abigail Ptacek donates time, and backpacks By JoRDAN VAlloNE jvallone@liherald.com
Courtesy Mikey G’s Embracing Wings Foundation
The Merrick-based Mikey G’s Embracing Wings Foundation will hold its second annual Car & Motorcycle Show on Sept. 17, in honor of Michael Geraldi, a New York City Police Department officer who unexpectedly died in September of 2020.
Keeping Michael Geraldi’s memory alive
Foundation helps children in law enforcement families By JoRDAN VAlloNE jvallone@liherald.com
By all accounts, Michael Geraldi was a special person. A New York City Police Department officer who lived in Merrick, he was always committed to giving back and helping others. “He was always trying to find ways to really help out the community and those that were less fortunate,” his wife, Carmen Geraldi, said. Michael Geraldi unexpectedly died in September of 2020 at the age of 45. Mikey G’s Embracing Wings Foundation was founded the following summer by Carmen Geraldi, its president, with the hopes of continuing her 202 3 HIGH SCH OOL SPORTS PREVIEW SEPTEMBER 14, 2023
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husband’s spirit of giving back. Michael Geraldi was into sports cars — Ford Mustangs, in particular — and ran a Mustang club, called Strong Island Stangs. “It kind of became like a family, and after starting the club, he ended up reaching almost 2,000 members,” Carmen Geraldi said. “So at that point, he started to focus on more philanthropic issues. He loved to bring joy to kids, so he would engage the Mustang club in Toy for Tots, the John Theissen Foundation.” The club would also hold food runs for pantries, at places like Cure of Ars Roman Catholic Church in Merrick. “Before he passed, his plan was to turn his CoNTiNuED oN PaGE 2
end of August, I receive a phone call from Miss Abigail, as I call her, and her grandmother, Sue, who reach out to me and say ‘It’s backpack time.’ She makes me want to be a better person.”
Abigail Ptacek fondly remembers the day she first donated backpacks to the North Bellmore School District, in the summer of 2012. She walked to Martin Ave- How it started nue Elementary School, “I think I was always raised accompanied by to give back,” Ptaher grandparents, cek told the HerSue and Bob Ptaald. “Is it good for cek, pulling a red the community? Is wagon that held i t g o o d fo r t h e seven backpacks environment? I’ve (and some of Abialways been g ail’s American involved in comGirl dolls, which munity things — came along for the and my grandparride). ents were a very All these years MARiE TESTA big part of that.” later, her efforts to Superintendent, North Ptacek isn’t a give back to those Bellmore School resident of North in need have not District Bellmore. She lives only cont inu ed, i n M a s s ap e q u a , but grown tremenwhere she’s a d o u s l y. This senior in high s c h o o l ye a r, t h e d i s t r i c t school this year, and very received 54 backpacks from involved in art and music proPtacek, 17, and her grand- grams, as well as BBYO, a Jewmother, packed with just ish youth group. Her grandabout anything a student may parents live just a block away need throughout the school from Martin Avenue school, year. and Sue was an art teacher at “I’ve watched this young Wellington C. Mepham High lady grow up,” North Bell- School in the Bellmore-Mermore Superintendent Marie CoNTiNuED oN PaGE 4 Testa said. “Every September,
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he has a depth and soul about her that belies her years.