Thursday, October 1, 2026
Freeport non-profit Cedarmore Corporation, an organization affiliated with the local Zion Cathedral Church of God in Christ, held a closing ceremony for its summer basketball and reading programs in the Bishop Frank O. White Park. The young participants, ranging from rising first graders to high schoolers, celebrated their summer of literacy and athleticism.
On Aug. 6, parents, children, coaches, members and leaders of Zion Cathedral and other community supporters gathered to celebrate the success of the program, which began on June 29. The ceremony also recognized the dedication of the Cedarmore Corporation, along with its partnering group Big Brothers Association, to uplift Freeport youth positively.
Bo Harris, one of Big Brother Association’s program directors, mentioned during the ceremony that despite rain and Canadian wildfire smog that led to days of the camp being delayed or canceled, the summer programs were overwhelmingly successful.
“I want to thank the parents for entrusting your children to us,” Harris said. “I’ve been working out here since one o’clock in all of this weather, but you know what? It’s a labor of love.”
Frank A. White, senior pastor of Zion Cathedral and chief executive officer of the Cedarmore Corporation, applauded the efforts of the reading and basketball program leaders, which include Harris, his wife, Jacci Harris, who is the board chair of the Cedarmore Corporation, and Michael Lisbon, another Big Brothers Association program director.
“I believe the children are our future,” White told the closing ceremony audience. “Teach them well and let them lead the way. You’ve [the program directors] done an excellent job at doing that.”
The Town of Hempstead provided the Cedarmore Corporation a showmobile for the closing ceremony, which was also accompanied by appearances from the town’s Supervisor John Ferretti and Deputy Supervisor Dorothy Goosby. The deputy supervisor provided over a half a dozen citations to the Cedarmore Corporation, the Big Brother Association and several of its sponsors and partners, including the Freeport-Roosevelt NAACP chapter, the Long Island Nets and Gala Foods Supermarket.
Despite the program’s conclusion, Ferretti encouraged the Cedarmore youth to continue enjoying what Freeport and Hempstead have to offer outside, and continue to be productive ahead of the start of school in September.
“There’s a lot more warm days coming up, and I know that you’re gonna continue being out there in our beautiful parks, being in our beautiful beaches and pool and continuing to have a great summer,” the supervisor said.
Children who were a part of the reading and basketball programs were given crowns and trophies respectively, with the top performers getting special awards. One child who logged 34 books into his summer reading log won a new bike. For her marked improvement during the basketball program, young Kayla Joseph was awarded a free week of training at the KidStrong basketball program in Merrick. Finally, Ryan Green was awarded a most valuable player award for being the top player in Cedarmore’s eldest division.
