Herald Neighbors

Tossing bean bags for a cause at Reel in East Rockaway

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Beanbags flew through the air on Sept. 29 as Reel hosted its inaugural cornhole tournament to benefit Ethan and the Bean, a nonprofit that helps train and employ people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

“We got some great feedback and we met some great people,” said Noreen Donovan, the manager of Reel, who organized the event. Ethan and the Bean was inspired by Noreen’s nephew, Ethan.

At the tournament, American Cornhole League director Tom Gubelli, an Oceanside resident, explained the rules of the game. Then, more than 30 teams competed in a single-elimination tournament until one squad was left standing. The first-place team won $800, while the second-place team took home $200.

Guests also had the opportunity to bid on raffle items, including sports memorabilia, four club suite tickets to the Oct. 7 Jets vs. Broncos game, a popcorn maker and discounts to restaurants and salons. All of the funds will go toward helping Ethan and the Bean develop a coffee shop, which would be run by adults on the autism spectrum.

Donovan estimated that the tournament brought in about $15,000 for the Caldwell, N.J.- based organization. She said she would like to use the money to open up a shack at the Reel, where she could employ one or two adults on the spectrum who would make coffee for a paycheck.

“We’re actually trying to make it a small place,” she said.

In the meantime, however, she said Reel would be selling Ethan and the Bean coffee from its plant in New Jersey. Donovan also said that she would like to host another cornhole tournament next year to benefit both Ethan and the Bean and Camp ANCHOR, a Town of Hempstead program that provides recreational programs to children with special needs.