Mayor's Golf Classic breaks fundraising record for a second consecutive year

In a display of generosity, the 37th annual Rockville Centre Mayor’s Golf and Dinner Classic raised a record-breaking $75,000 to benefit the village’s Community Fund, which has been supporting residents in financial distress for more than 30 years.

Held each September at the Rockville Links, the event serves as the primary fundraiser for the Community Fund, which has raised more than $1.9 million to help neighbors with the greatest need.

“I consider myself extremely fortunate to be born and raised in our great village,” Rockville Centre Mayor Francis X. Murray said. “While our village has a lot to offer, it is the people that make Rockville Centre special.”

This year, Ed Asip was recognized for his long-standing commitment to the community.  In 2003, Asip joined the Lion’s Club of Rockville Centre. He served as president of the organization for three years, and has continued to serve as manager of the club’s website.

Lions Club International is a global leader in humanitarian service. It consists of dedicated volunteers who work hard to try and help improve the community.

Asip currently serves as president of the Rockville Centre Chamber of Commerce, where he plays a vital role by bringing local businesses together with the goal of fostering growth in the local economy.

In his acceptance speech, on Monday night, Asip highlighted the importance of community service, particularly through the Lions Club’s mission.

“The Lions Club, named by Helen Keller as the ‘Knights of the Blind,’ focuses on fighting blindness and diabetes globally while providing vital services to those affected locally,” he said. “Our club of about 70 members works tirelessly to support people in need and improve our community.”

He was awarded the Melvin Jones Fellowship in 2018, the highest honor from the Lions International Foundation, and in 2023, the Chamber of Commerce named him Rockville Centre Businessperson of the Year.

Reflecting on the community’s evolution, he fondly recalled his childhood days at Veterans Park, the future site of Mr. B’s Inclusive Playground, a project that the Lions Club, Rockville Centre Little League Challenger Division, the Tommy Brull Foundation and the office of Rockville Centre Mayor Francis X. Murray have been working toward it for many years.

“I grew up playing at Veterans Park when it was just an open field,” he said. “Fast forward 70 years, and I get to witness that same area being completely transformed with the addition of Mr. B’s—an inclusive, state-of-the-art playground.”

Mayor Murray praised Asip for his enduring service to the community. “Rockville Centre is home to many that put the needs of others over their own, those that go above and beyond to help their fellow neighbors in need, and those that consistently give back for the greater good of our community,” Murray said. “Tonight, we get to honor one such individual. Whether it was on the field coaching or serving as an active member of the Rockville Centre Lions Club, Ed Asip has made a meaningful difference for countless residents.”

Following the award presentation, Asip announced that Donna O’Reilly Einemann, an associate broker at Douglas Elliman Realty and acting vice president of the Rockville Centre Chamber of Commerce, has been voted the 2024 Rockville Centre Businessperson of the Year. Einemann, recognized for her dedication as chair of the membership committee and her leadership as a member of the executive board, will be honored at the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce’s annual breakfast later this month.

The golf and dinner classic also recognized Harold Reese Jr., who was presented with the Eugene J. Murray Outstanding Service Award for his 37 years of service on the RVC Community Fund committee.

Reese, president of Harrontine Realty Corp., which owns Audi Lynbrook and Il Luogo Restaurant on Sunrise Highway, has deep roots in the community. He has been a resident of Rockville Centre for the last 35 years. His father, the late Harold A. Reese, was the former owner of Reese Bros. Dodge on Merrick Road and later Sunrise Highway in Lynbrook, which he purchased in 1989 and later sold in 2003.

He previously served as president of the Lynbrook Chamber of Commerce from 1990-1994, where he remains active as a director. Reese has been a memebr of the Community Fund since its inception in 1987. He is also a proud supporter of the RVC, Lynbrook and Molloy University annual golf outings.