Dwarf Giraffe Celebrates 50th Anniversary

Dwarf Giraffe Athletic League recently celebrated its 50th anniversary in style. The celebration was held at their building located on 15th Road in Whitestone with over 200 past and present board members, players and parents. Also in attendance were New York State Senator Frank Padavan and representatives were also sent from Assemblywoman Ann-Margaret Carrozza’s and Assemblyman Brian McLaughlin’s offices.
State Senator Padavan presented the Whitestone-based league with a proclamation from the State Senate along with the promise of a $50,000 grant to renovate the gym floor. “I am proud to announce that I will be giving $1,000 for every year of existence,” he announced.
Tom McGinley from Assemblywoman Ann-Margaret Carrozza’s office also presented Dwarf Giraffe with a citation from the Assembly in Albany.
Ralph Cefalo, president of the Whitestone Community Volunteer Ambulance Service, presented Dwarf Giraffe with a defibrillator. He added that he will provide training for it’s use in addition to CPR and First Aid courses.
President Gene Brennan thanked all that were in attendance and mentioned that “Dwarf Giraffe would not be the successful league we are today without having the continued support of our local politicians, sponsors and dedicated coaches.”
Back in 1955, some young men who played softball together, the smaller guys calling themselves “Dwarfs” and the taller guys calling themselves “Giraffes,” decided to form a social club and try to help the youth in the community. They went to a local parish priest, the late Reverend O’Connell of St. Luke’s Church, with the idea of fielding one or two baseball teams for youngsters. The turnout was overwhelming, with more than 200 boys signing up. Thus the Dwarf-Giraffe Boy’s League was born.
The organization formally changed its name to the Dwarf Giraffe Athletic League in 1997. Shortly after girls were welcomed into the league. Over the years, it has offered programs to thousands of youngsters with an emphasis on instruction, sportsmanship and teamwork. This non-profit, non-sectarian organization now offers member participation for boys and girls from age 5 to 18 in five major sports programs - baseball, girls’ softball, basketball, tackle football and roller hockey.
Operations of the Dwarf Giraffe Athletic League are guided by a conscientious and enthusiastic Board of Directors. These Directors, who meet weekly, encourage the voluntary participation of parents in running league activities, therefore promoting true family-based programs.
Currently, the athletic club includes 1,200 kids, with its extensive basketball program operational every day of the week during the winter.
On the value of the league for kids, Brennan said, “It affords them an opportunity to get involved in a sport. From the weakest to the strongest player, any nationality or religion, they all play here. … we had a kid that played hockey with one arm; we had a girl that played basketball with one arm. We don’t discriminate against anybody. One of the problems in the league is it takes so long to get it together. Anybody that shows up, even after the sport is in full swing, we take them. We find a place for them.”