Jamaica YMCA Director Victoria Williams had recruited Dill last year because of his…
By Betsy Scheinbart
The Jamaica YMCA had to kick off its “Uniting for Youth” fund-raising campaign last Thursday without the campaign chairman, Freddie Dill, who died Feb. 26 at age 61.
Jamaica YMCA Director Victoria Williams had recruited Dill last year because of his support of youth activities in the southeast Queens community.
“He was a real community person,” Williams said. “I approached him with this project and he came to the YMCA to look around and make sure it served the kids who needed it the most.”
The campaign’s goal is to raise $40,000 for educational and values-based programs for young people whose families cannot afford the membership fees.
Williams said although she wanted to respect Dill’s family, his sudden death occurred too close to the event to call it off. About 100 people from southeast Queens attended.
Williams spoke to Dill’s son, Freddie Dill Jr., before the kickoff at the Y and said Dill Jr. told her his father would have wanted everything to continue.
Dill Jr. made a brief appearance at the event, but left to spend time with his son, Freddie Dill III, who was celebrating his first birthday.
Seminarian Brenda Jack from the New Hope Lutheran Church in Jamaica and Jamaica Y Board Chairwoman Juliet Lewis called for a moment of silence for Dill before the evening’s program began.
“He was the perfect person to lead this drive,” Lewis said. “We are saddened by his death, but we know he will live in our hearts.”
Several politicians attended the event, including state Sen. Malcolm Smith (D-St. Albans), City Councilman Archie Spigner (D-St. Albans), and Evelyn Wheeler representing state Assemblywoman Vivian Cook (D-South Ozone Park).
“I want to congratulate all of you,” Spigner said, “but most important of all, I want to acknowledge the life and work of Freddie Dill.”
Community Board 12 District Manger Yvonne Reddick told the crowd she had known Dill, the owner of Pooor Freddie’s Tire Shop on Merrick Boulevard, since he went before the Jamaica board to buy the Rib Shack on Linden Boulevard in 1988.
“He was a pillar in the community, and he will certainly be remembered,” Reddick said. “Not only will he be remembered, he will be missed.”
The program continued with two performances directed by YMCA instructor Valerie Walker. Sandra Martinez sang and her sisters, Jennifer and Christina, danced with her to the popular pop tune , “I Turn To You.”
Next dancers from three age groups — pre-school, elementary school, and middle school — performed a coming-of-age dance with their mothers to a CD of “The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face” sung by Celine Dion.
There was also a screening of Spike Lee’s HBO Documentary film, “4 Little Girls,” presented at the event by Time Warner Cable.
The film tells the story of the four black girls who were killed in a Birmingham, Ala. church in 1963.
Denise McNair, Carol Robertson, Cynthia Wesley, and Addie Mae Collins, all under 15, were killed when members of the Ku Klux Klan bombed the church, which had served as a critical meeting place in the early days of the Southern city’s civil rights movement.
Smith said the film showed what tragedies can befall a community if values like honesty, responsibility and respect are missing.
“We need to protect our children the best we can,” she said. “Who would have thought that a church would be bombed?”
Reach reporter Betsy Scheinbart by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300 Ext. 138.
