WHCSA names Loraine Magaraci Person of the Year

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Loraine Magaraci was unanimously chosen by the Executive Board of the West Hempstead Community Support Association (WHCSA) to be its 2015 Person of the Year.

Magaraci has lived in West Hempstead her entire life. The house she and her husband, Joe, live in was built by her grandfather. It is where he raised his family and has been home to Magaraci’s parents as well. Magaraci and her husband are the proud parents of three children. Their oldest son, Joseph, is a senior attending Adelphi University and their daughter, Ashley, is currently a freshman at Florida Atlantic University. Their youngest son, Nicholas, is a junior and attends West Hempstead High School. If you know Loraine, you know that family and community are very much a part of her life.

She may be small in stature, but Magaraci has a larger-than-life, vibrant personality. She has been described by those who know her as energetic, dynamic and enthusiastic in all that she does. She has held many positions within the West Hempstead PTA and PTSA and is currently Co-President of the West Hempstead PTSA. Her devotion to children encompasses a wide variety of volunteer activities where she has participated and held leadership roles both within and outside the school community.

For the past 10 years, Magaraci has been volunteering and helping with West Hempstead’s local soccer and football clubs. She was a former member of the West Hempstead Bronco’s Football Club Board. Several years ago, she founded and organized the Bronco’s Youth Cheerleaders, which she has coached since its inception. In addition to her current work with the Broncos, Magaraci still finds the time to coach the West Hempstead Chief’s Soccer Club’s senior boys, and is on the Chief’s Soccer Club’s Board.

When Hurricane Sandy devastated Island Park, Magaraci helped with many of the relief efforts initiated by West Hempstead community organizations. She helped serve meals and worked to sort and deliver clothing and food to Island Park residents.

She always seems to be able to make time to participate when asked to serve or get involved with community functions. During the difficulties that Hurricane Sandy created for Island Park, she and her husband opened their home to several Island Park students, who lived with them for a period of time. Magaraci explained the reason she and her husband invited them was because they wanted to provide some sense of normalcy to the students’ lives, and enable them to attend school without any interruption.

Some of Magaraci’s past involvements have been the Relay of Life, and to help the WHCSA with its efforts to close the infamous Courtesy Hotel. She attended Town of Hempstead meetings in support of the redevelopment of the Courtesy property and participated in demonstrations to close the hotel. Most recently, she was asked to be a member of the West Hempstead Library Strategic Planning Committee.

“When I was asked to consider the WHCSA Person of the Year, the task was not an easy one for me as many wonderful West Hempstead individuals come to mind,” said Manny Martinez, a member of the WHCSA’s executive board. “The Person of the Year is involved, visible and a leader in the community. After much thought, I cast my vote for Loraine because she brings a positive spirit to all that she is involved in. When looking and speaking with her, you know she loves West Hempstead and the children and, you can see they love her just as much.

“In my opinion, Loraine truly is West Hempstead’s biggest cheerleader,” he added.

Please join the WHCSA on Tuesday, March 24, at 7:30 p.m. in the West Hempstead Middle School Cafeteria when they will honor Magaraci and present her with the 2015 West Hempstead Person of the Year award.