Longtime Greenport Coach To Receive Award Celebrating Unity, Diversity

NORTH FORK, NY — A beloved Greenport coach will be honored this week for changing young lives.

The Southold Town Anti-Bias Task Force will award Coach Al Edwards with the 2023 Helen W. Prince Award. The event will take place Thursday, October 5, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Peconic Landing, located at 1500 Brecknock Road in Greenport.

In 2015, the Southold Town Anti-Bias Task Force established the Helen W. Prince Award to "call the attention to and honor a community member in Southold who has distinguished him or herself as an extraordinary leader in championing civil and human rights by promoting diversity, unity and fairness in our town," a release from Southold Town said.

Helen Wright Prince created the migrant labor camp school in Cutchogue.

"For more than 30 years, Coach Edwards distinguished himself as a relentless mentor for young male athletes in Greenport," the ABTF said. "Coach Edwards demonstrated consistent positive role modeling and service to youth of all backgrounds, supporting the development of students' fair play, integrity and teamwork."

Edwards also has a long legacy on the court during his high school career; he ended his time there by scoring 2,117 points — all without the benefit of the three-point shot.

"He was amazing to watch!" said Joan Dinizio.