The Long Beach Lions Club marked a century of community service earlier this month, and recognized three families whose commitment to volunteerism has strengthened Long Beach, Island Park and neighboring communities for generations. Two of the evening’s highest-profile honorees were from Island Park.
More than 200 guests gathered at the Lawrence Yacht and Country Club on July 18 to celebrate the club’s 100th anniversary, commemorating its founding in 1926 and a legacy of charitable work that has extended well beyond Long Beach.
Throughout the evening, the Lions’ longstanding service was highlighted, including scholarships for local students, an annual Thanksgiving food drive that has helped hundreds of families and its decades-long partnership with the Guide Dog Foundation, which has sponsored nearly 90 guide and service dogs for veterans and people who are blind or visually impaired.
Island Park Mayor Michael McGinty and his wife, Jeanne, received the club’s Lion of the Year Award for their unwavering support of Lions events and fundraisers.
Club President Allen Schwartz said that the McGintys have volunteered at virtually every club event in recent years, from food drives and bingo nights to fundraising events on the Long Beach boardwalk.
“When you say Mike and Jeanne, you don’t say one without the other,” Schwartz said. “They’re one. They’ve participated in every single event we’ve had.”
Schwartz noted the symbolism of presenting the couple with a singular Lion of the Year award rather than separate honors, calling them inseparable partners in service. He also recognized their leadership as Island Park celebrates its own centennial this year.
“Jeanne and I are active with Tunnel to Towers,” Michael said. “The Lions Club raises money, principally, for guide dogs for veterans. In my mind, there’s nothing more important than our veterans. Nothing.”
He added that the recognition reflected the work of the volunteers who have sustained the Lions Club for five generations.
“In a world where volunteerism has gone the way of the dodo, here’s a group that has been together for five generations,” McGinty said. “They’ve given so much of themselves. They care. It’s incredible to watch the impact these volunteers have on our everyday lives. I’m very, very proud that the Lions Club has seen fit to honor us”
He praised the organization’s annual Thanksgiving food drive, describing the generosity he has seen firsthand as residents regularly return with donations.
“I can assure you that we’re going to continue working hard for the Lions, for all they represent,” McGinty said. Encouraging guests to support the evening’s fundraising efforts, he added, “Empty your pockets. It’s good for the soul.”
Members of the Natalello family — owners of Jack’s Pizzeria, in Island Park — were also recognized for their years of community involvement. Charles Natalello accepted the award alongside his parents, Nate and Josephine, and his sister, Michelle.
For nearly 15 years, Jack’s Pizzeria has supported local PTA fundraisers, youth sports teams, food pantries and families facing hardship. Charles Natalello said that learning more about the Lions’ mission inspired him to become even more involved.
“I realized how much they do for children in the community,” he said. “My heart grew eight more sizes that day.”
The recognition, Charles said, belonged not only to his family but also to the restaurant’s employees and loyal customers. “We’ve always believed that a local pizzeria is more than just a place to eat,” he said. “It’s where families celebrate, friends reconnect and the community feels at home.”
He credited his parents with building a business rooted in kindness and generosity, and said that partnerships between local businesses and service organizations strengthen both Long Beach and Island Park.
“This award from the Lions Club reminds us how powerful it is when small family businesses and service organizations work together to strengthen our community,” Natalello said. “We’re inspired by your legacy and excited to keep contributing alongside you.”
The McAvoy family, whose ties to both the Lions and Long Beach date back to the club’s founding, was also honored. Charles McAvoy was a charter member in 1926, the same year he founded McAvoy Plumbing and Heating.
His grandson Charlie McAvoy accepted the recognition on behalf of the family, and reflected on growing up with Lions Club activities and continuing a tradition of service that has spanned three generations.
The celebration featured dinner, dancing, raffles and tributes to the club’s century of volunteerism before concluding with another act of giving. The club presented a $4,000 donation to Fans for the Cure, the prostate cancer awareness organization founded by baseball broadcaster Ed Randall, to support education and early-detection initiatives.
The evening underscored a common theme among the honorees: that lasting community service depends on neighbors, businesses and volunteers working together. For Island Park’s McGintys and the Natalello family, the recognition reflected years of quiet commitment to helping others — the same spirit the Lions Club has sought to foster for the past 100 years.