Sunday, February 24, 2013
Annual Communion Breakfast 2013
Yonkers A.O.H. Hosts Annual Communion Breakfast at St. Joseph’s
Seminary
 |
| Over 200 people packed the large cafeteria at St. Joseph's Seminary |
The Ancient Order of Hibernians of
Yonkers welcomed over 200 people to their Annual Communion Breakfast at St. Joseph’s Seminary this past weekend, an event that has
grown bigger each and every year!
The Hibernians and their guests were warmly
welcomed by the new Rector of the Seminary, Msgr.
Peter Vaccari. The mass was
celebrated in the Seminary’s Chapel, the mass was then followed by a full hot
breakfast in the cafeteria.
 |
| National Director Chip McLean leads the Hibernians to mass |
The guest Speaker for the day was Fr.
John R. Sheehan S.J., who is the President of The Xavier Society for the Blind as
well as the chaplain of the Notre Dame Club of New York. Fr. Sheehan
told the exciting story of his life, which included life threatening moments in
Africa, ministry work in the south pacific, to living
blindfolded for a month in order to prepare himself for his work with the
blind. Fr. Sheehan thanked everyone for
the opportunity to speak, the gathered guests all were captivated by Fr.
Sheehan's lifelong record of service.
 |
| West. County Executive Rob Astorino presents Ronan O'Brien with proclamation |
The Division also honored one of its
own as Ronan O’Brien was named 2013 Yonkers Hibernian
of the Year. Ronan has been an extraordinary member over
the past several years. The honor was
truly well deserved. Congratulations
Ronan!
 |
| Division Pres. Kevin Ellis presents Ronan with Hibernian of the Year Award |
The officers and members of Division
One would like to thank Msgr. Vaccari, Fr. Nick and the rest of the staff at St. Joseph’s Seminary for a wonderful breakfast and
event. We are privileged to be able to
hold our breakfast there each and every year. Special thanks to our breakfast
chairman Brendan Murphy, whose works all year to make sure everything goes
smoothly, and thanks to all of our friends and supporters for attending this
very important yearly event!
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Save Ryan and Ethan ALD Fundraiser Event
Yonkers Division 1 Supports
“The Save Ryan and Ethan”
ALD
Fundraiser Event
 |
| Ryan, Ethan, and Jack Caulfied McCormack |
Members of the Yonkers A.O.H. were on hand at a fundraiser
held Saturday, February 16th at The Rambling House Bar and
Restaurant in the Woodlawn Section of the Bronx.
Division 1 was able to pledge $2,500 towards offsetting treatment costs
for two very brave children from Ireland who were diagnosed with ALD late
last year.
 | ||||
| Presenting Check to Ryan and Ethan's Father JimmyCaulfield |
Ryan and Ethan
Caulfield McCormack (aged 6 and 4) from Tramore, County Waterford, were recently diagnosed with Adrenoleukodystrophy, also know as ALD.
ALD, is a deadly genetic disease that affects 1 in 18,000 people. It most
severely affects boys and men. This brain disorder destroys Myelin, the
protective sheath that surrounds the brain’s neurons — the nerve cells that
allow us to think and to control our muscles. ALD causes relentless progressive
deterioration to a vegetative state or death, usually within five years. It
knows no racial, ethnic or geographic barriers.
 |
| Ryan and Ethan Caulfield McCormack |
Their
parents, Caroline and Jimmy began to notice strange symptoms in Ryan earlier
last year, and when he was diagnosed with ALD, they had their other children
tested, Ethan tested positive for the disease as well. They began a fundraising and awareness campaign
with events in both Ireland and The United States, and the
outpouring of support has been tremendous.
 |
| Tables of items that were auctioned off to help raise funds |
The event that
was held in The Bronx featured live music, raffles, a silent sports auction and
more. “This family has suffered terribly and we are happy and honored to
support them. The way that they and the
entire Irish Community have come together to support Ryan and Ethan is truly inspiring.” said Division One President Kevin Ellis
 |
| The silent auction featured items donated from the local Irish community |
Prognosis
for patients with childhood cerebral X-ALD is generally poor due to progressive
neurological deterioration unless bone marrow transplantation is performed
early. Ryan is currently in the U.S. undergoing the process for a bone
marrow transplant at a hospital in Minnesota. Ethan must wait until he is at
least 5 years old before beginning his treatment for the disease, priced at
about $1.5 million per child.
For more
information on how you can support The Save Ryan and Ethan Campaign, please
visit the website that has been set up for them at :
saveryanandethan.com
saveryanandethan.com
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Division One Annual Pub Tour 2013
Yonkers Hibernians Hold
Annual Pub Tour
Annual Pub Tour
 |
| Members braved Superstorm Nemo and boarded the Pub Tour Bus |
The members of Division One have
always enjoyed a challenge, and they proved Saturday that they weren’t going to
let a little thing like Super Storm Nemo
get in the way of an annual tradition.
The Division went ahead with its Annual Pub Tour despite 10 inches of
snow being dumped on the greater Yonkers area, and neither sleet nor snow
kept these Hibernians from keeping their appointed rounds!
 |
| There is never a shortage of volunteers for this annual event! |
The Pub Tour is now in its fifth year,
and it held every February so that members can say “Thanks” to all of our
Charity Golf Outing Sponsors. The funds
raised from our Golf Outing go to support the Division’s Charities and Missions
program.
 |
| Our Promotional Coasters were a hit with Pub Owners! |
This year, Division One handed out approximately 5,000 coasters emblazoned with the Division’s logo and contact information. This was the idea of Past division president Tom Allison, “Not only do the pub owners appreciate them, but they are sure to increase awareness of our organization and hopefully lead to increased interest in what we do”. The coasters were sponsored by Doubleday’s Bar and Restaurant and The Celtic House in Dobbs Ferry.
A lot of effort went into making this
year’s Pub Tour a smashing success.
Thanks to Peter Van Slyck and Always East Bus Company for supporting
this event each and every year. We would
also wish to thank Dennis O’Brien for
having the coasters produced for us.
Thanks also to Stacey Ellis
for the wonderful coaster design. We are
already looking forward to having next years tour even bigger and better!
Monday, February 4, 2013
Division Featured in Flag/Sash Advertisement
Yonkers A.O.H. Division Featured
In Parade Sash Advertisement
In Parade Sash Advertisement
The St.
Patrick’s Day Parade season is fast approaching, and parade committees from all
around the area use flags, banners and sashes produced by the Gettysburg Flag Company of New York. Division
One has been a customer of Gettysburg Flag for several years.
 |
| Pictured in The NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade 2011 |
When
the company sent out its annual flyer for St. Patrick’s Day orders, we were
thrilled to discover that a picture of our Division was included in the ad! The picture is of our Division preparing to
march in the historic 250th New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade
in 2011. The Yonkers Division won a marching unit award from the parade committee that year, and we have no doubt that the flags and sashes from Gettysburg Flag made a great impression on the parade judges!
Division One is thankful to Gettysburg
Flag Company for showcasing us in their ad.
We recommend them highly. To
learn more visit their website at: www.gettysburgflag.com
Friday, February 1, 2013
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
 |
| Division One President Kevin Ellis |
February, 2013
Brothers, we are already into the month of February! Where does the time go? This month marks the beginning of our busy season, and already I am proud of the effort and dedication of our members. These events that we hold do not organize themselves, and the fact that we work so hard together as a group has reminded me that I am a very fortunate President!
Let me begin by congratulating several of our members who will be honored within the next month or so. As you well know, our Division Vice President, Jim Walsh, was chosen as the Westchester County Aide to the Grand Marshal in the 252nd Annual New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Several other members and I attended the installation ceremony in Manhattan in January, and I join with everyone in congratulating him on a well deserved honor!
Division One also has three members who were chosen as Aides to The Grand Marshal in this year’s 58th Annual Yonkers St. Patrick’s Day Parade! Congratulations to Ronan O’Brien, Joe Hallinan, and Kenny O’Brienon receiving this wonderful honor. You make us all proud!
This month, Division One has a dizzying schedule. We start things off with our 4th Annual Division One Pub Tour on Saturday, February 9th. We once again will visit all of the establishments who sponsor our Charity Golf Outing each and every year. The Yonkers St. Patrick’s Day Parade Dinner Dance is being held at Yonkers Raceway on Saturday, February 23rd. This is followed by our Annual Communion Breakfast at St. Joseph’s Seminary the next morning on February 24th, followed by the N.Y.C. Parade Dinner in Queens later that afternoon. It’s a daunting weekend, but I believe our members are up to the challenge!
Thanks go out to Brian and Kevin Hartnett for organizing our successful Super Bowl mid-year fundraiser. Thanks as well to PeterVan Slyck and Always East Bus Company for their support of our Pub Tour. Thanks also to Dennis O’Brien for having all of our promotional bar coasters produced so quickly. It’s dedication like this that sets Division One apart!
Division One is getting it’s engines revved up to take us into the parade marching season. The state of our Division is strong, and it points to becoming stronger each and every year.
In Our Motto,
Kevin Ellis
Division One President
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