Dedicate Girls' Wing At Boys Club
Western Queens Gazette July 20, 1988
BY JOHN TOSCANO
Asardonic remark at a Variety Boys Club dinner five years ago that the club was open to "girls on Monday

Cutting ribbon to open Girls' Annex are (l. to r.) Jim Reid, Barry London, Wayne Lewellan, Faye Mancuso, Muriel Myerson, Salah Hassanein, Elyse England, Frederick Mancuso, Ann Buehler, Councilmember Vallone, Assemblymember Butler, and Sen. Onorato.

only" came full circle yesterday

when the new Girls' Annex at the Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens in Astoria was officially opened.

A hot sun and 90 degree temperatures quickened the pace of the ceremonies, held outdoors in front of the new addition to the club's facilities at 21-12 30th Rd. But the uncomfortable weather couldn't dampen spirits of local area and movie industry supporters of the club who attended the dedication and ribbon cutting.

Presiding at the ceremonies was City Councilman Peter Vallone, who is active in the operation of the club and whose father, Charles, founded the club some 35 year ago. Vallone remarked during the ceremonies that, because of his dad's involvement with the club, he "practically grew up here…I learned to swim here." Charles Vallone passed away in 1967.

Goodly crowd braved 90 degree heat to attend dedication.

The new wing, at the north end of the 35-yearold original Boys Club building, has been named the Dana and Albert Broccoli Girls Annex. Albert Broccoli, who was born and raised in Astoria and went to Hollywood to become the world renowned producer of the James Bond series of movie thrillers, has been a steady supporter of the Boys Club and gave special financial support to the new addition project, as did his wife, Dana.

The Broccolis were not present because he started filming the 18th Bond movie, "License Revoked", in Mexico yesterday. A plaque was presented in honor of the Broccolis.

Three others who were present were singled out by Salah Hassanein, head of the club's board of directors, for praise for their special efforts in fundraising for the almost half-million dollar facility. They were: Muriel Myerson, Elyse England and Faye Mancuso, Elyse England is Mrs. Sala Hassanein and Mrs. Myerson and Mrs. Mancuso are married to longtime Boys Club supporters who are officials in the movie industry, Bernard Myerson of the Loew's theater chain, and Frederick Mancuso, of Paramount Pictures.

Vallone (r.) presents proclamation to Ann Buehler as (l. to r.) Judge Laurino, Deputy BP Magnani, Assemblyman Butler and Sen. Onorato look on.

Vallone opened the ceremonies by presenting a City Council proclamation to Ann Buehler, executive director of the club almost since its inception. At the presentation Vallone was joined by Queens Surrogate Judge Louis D. Laurino, a longtime Boys Cub activist and one of its past presidents; State Sen. George Onorato; Assemblyman Denis Butler; and Deputy Queens Borough President Peter Magnani, representing BP Claire Shulman, who was in Atlanta for the Democratic National Convention.

The proclamation praised Boys Club "supporters and staff workers for providing our youth with the means to better themselves, grow into outstanding citizens, and become positive role models for the generations which follow them."

Vallone stated afterwards: "The club was created to provide our youth with a positive environment in which to socialize, compete in healthy athletic activities and learn the importance of education and good study habits. The organization's founders were dedicated community leaders including my father, Charles J. Vallone, Alexander delGiorno, Mario Cariello, Spyros P. Skouras Sr., Meyer J. Baranco, John Forchelli, Alfred Wohl and Morris Brecher.

Artist's rendering of new Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens facilities. Newly opened Girls' Wing is at far right.

"The club has flourished under the leadership of its chairman, Salah M. Hassanein, president of Warner Brothers International Theaters, and its tireless director Ann Buehler, who has been the soul and spirit of the club since she began as volunteer when fundraising was initiated for the club's creation.

"More than 2,000 boys and girls from the community now enjoy the club's events, daily activities and facilities, including a junior olympic swimming pool, large game room, two gymnasiums, a library, photography room, arts and crafts and three club rooms."

Vallone noted Laurino's past associations with the club, and made mention of State grants that are obtained by Onorato and Butler for the club each year, and similar grants obtained by himself and Shulman annually to cover some of the operating expenses.

In his remarks, Magnani made reference to Broccoli, stating that Broccoli realized long before the Bond movies "that our youth face greater enemies than 'Dr. No' and other Bond nemeses."

Onorato observed that as a young man, starting out in the bricklaying trade, he worked on constructing the original Boys Club building.

Butler noted in his remarks that "the Boys Club has been dealing significantly" with problems faced by youth.

Club President James (Jim) Reid opened his remarks with the statement: "The day of our dreams finally came." But, he added, "things like this don't just happen…it takes lots of people." He then proceeded to list many, among them the Brecher family, Elyse England, Jack Farber, Salah Hassanein, the Heyden Foundation and Heckscher Foundation (both of which have made financial contributions to the club), Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Mancuso, Ted Mann, Mr. and Mrs. Bernie Myerson, Alan Pinsker. His final accolade was for the Variety Boys Clubs of America, of which the Queens club is a member. "Without it, we couldn't have the first brick in," said Reid. The Variety movement is made up of and directed by officials of the movie industry.

Reid introduced George Gomes, regional director of the Variety Boys Clubs of America, who commented that "hopefully in the near future it will become the Variety Boys and Girls Clubs of America." Gomes also introduced the first official member of the Girls Club of Queens, Jennifer Bruno of Astoria; and the Girls Club", Tanya Farrar, who started out as a member of the club and is now on its staff.

Vallone then introduced Hassanein, paying tribute to him as the major force in the club's operating structure.

Hassanein recalled that five years ago at the annual Boys Club dinner, Msgr. Heneghan, of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, in giving the invocation, asked the Lord's blessing "for the Boys Club of Queens- girls on Mondays only." It was at the period when girl members and activities were beginning to be phased in.

Following the dinner, Hassanein, continued, the three women cited- Elyse England, Faye Mancuso, and Muriel Myerson- took up the cause for a Girls' wing and raised much of the money to have it built through a series of fundraisers.

Hassanein said at one point he mentioned to Broccoli there was a shortage of funds for the project and in short order Broccoli made a large contribution.

Another major contributor to the girls' wing project who was present was Joseph Markoly, a longtime Astoria resident who lives two blocks from the club. He is a retired general contractor.

Hassanein also paid tribute to Bob Beecher, the general contractor from Forest Bay Construction Co. who constructed the girls' wing "at cost", James Martino, the architect; Paul DeRonde, of United Artists, who was called upon late last week to help do the final cleanup at the construction site and promptly provided the personnel and equipment to do it; Mike Ukropec, of Imperial Floor Waxing, for providing the flooring; and to the late Joe Seider, of Presidential Theaters, for a $50,000 contribution.

Hassanein also singled out for praise the family of the late Robert Wilkinson, of Universal Pictures, for donating the gym equipment for the new wing. Mrs. Addie Wilkinson and her children made the trip from Memphis, Tenn. to attend the ceremony.

Others cited for their support by Hassanein were Frederick Mancuso (Paramount), Alan Pinsker (U.A.), Barry London (Paramount), Wayne Lewellen (Paramount), Marty Kutner, William Soady (Universal), Steve Flynn (U.A.), and Mike Beck (U.A.), who received the plaque on behalf of Dana and Albert Broccoli.

Closing the ceremony, Elyse England, Faye Mancuso, and Muriel Myersohn joined Hassanein, Vallone, and other public and movie industry officials in the ribbon cutting ceremony. Following this, there was a luncheon buffet inside the club.

Among the many local club supporters on hand for the momentous occasion were: Anthony Gazzara, former state legislator, now vice president of the Jacob Javits Convention Center; Buster Celestino, member, Board of Directors; Tena Vallone, wife of the Councilman; Frances Lopresto, Joan DaCorta, Mary Demakos and Barbara Bruno. The invocation was said by Rabbi Jacob Polish and Fr. James Smith closed the ceremony.