QCSB will match $100K for Flushing Library

Some people might think of it as a bad day when a couple of clowns steal your thunder at a press conference, but Joseph R. Ficalora, the chair, president and CEO of New York Community Bancorp, didn’t seem to mind.
Ficalora was at the Queens Library in Flushing on Thursday, June 12 to announce that the Queens County Savings Bank division will match donations to the Queens Library Foundation through Monday, September 1, up to $100,000.
He was joined by Thomas W. Galante, Director of the Queens Library and Diana Chapin, executive Director of the Queens Library Foundation to make the announcement.
Galante expressed gratitude that “every dollar we raise for the next several weeks is worth twice as much to the library.”
Chapin echoed the sentiment, noting that during Ficalora’s leadership, the bank has participated in over $600,000 in contributions to the library. “Every gift, regardless of size, will help us reach our goal,” she noted.
Normally, such announcements garner rousing applause.
But as part of the day’s schedule, the library had two juggling clowns from the Big Apple Circus perform on unicycles in the library plaza near the intersection of Main Street and Kissena Boulevard in downtown Flushing, as a preliminary.
“Harry” and “Pete” then drew a delighted crowd of local parents and children into the library, where they listened to the grownups with polite inattention, until the clowns took over.
The executives never had a chance, barely able to contain their mirth as they became virtual props for Harold (aka ‘Todd’) Moeller and Peter Daniel Straus of the not-for-profit circus currently on tour on Long Island. “I don’t tour,” the 14-year veteran Straus said, “I teach and visit hospitals with the circus.”
Even when Ficalora and Galante filled in for an unavailable storyteller, reading to kids from the book “Little Stevie Wonder,” they still had competition from the pair, who continued to “clown around” with scores of delighted children in the music room. The pair barely kept straight faces.
“I enjoy the opportunity to support the library,” said a chuckling Ficalora, adding he was impressed with their “efforts to consistently outperform in its services to the Borough.”
Library supporters may contribute to toward the “challenge grant” at any Queens Library location and at any branch of the Queens County Savings Bank, New York Commercial Bank or Atlantic Bank in Queens.
Contributions may also be made at www.queenslibraryfoundation.org or by calling the Queens Library Foundation at 718-480-4273.