Huge-Hearted Teachers Surprise Kids To Help With Fundraiser

RIVERHEAD, NY — It's the kind of story that makes you realize how teachers can have a forever impact on the lives of their students.

On Thursday night, a bowling fundraiser for the Riverhead Community Awareness Program, Inc, or CAP, was held at the All Star in Riverhead.

According to its website, Riverhead CAP is a non-profit community-based organization founded in 1979 by volunteers to address growing problems caused by alcohol and other drugs within the Riverhead schools and community. "Today, CAP is the major provider of drug and alcohol prevention, counseling and community coalition services in the Riverhead Central School District and community," the site says.

Mom Kathy Wagner reached out to Patch to describe the selfless act of love two teachers planned to surprise the kids at the fundraiser.

"There was a group of 15 high school freshman on two teams that had one spot left on their teams. What they didn't know was that their favorite teacher was showing up to be their 16th man," she said.

After the event, Wagner sang Riverhead CAP's praises, describing it as an "amazing organization" that teaches the children of the district so much and gives them tools to deal with the challenges of today's world. The bowling fundraiser is always a fun-filled event, she added.

"My son and his friends decided to put together a team and ended up with 15 kids — 16 were needed to reserve two lanes. Who stepped up to be the 16th man? Riverhead High School's own Doc Greenberger!" she said.

Greenberger was a surprise guest, bowling under the name "Dr. Strange" to fit in with their team name The Avengers, she said.

"He tied up some bowling shoes and jumped right in. He and his wife, our beloved Riverhead Middle School Latin teacher Lorene Custer, with over a half century between them of teaching expertise, gave up their night to teach our kids again — not Latin this time, but how to listen, how to make a difference and how to be a family."

The pair, she said, inspires children to study Latin; the students are fortunate to live in a district, one of very few, that offers the classes, Wagner said.

The teachers, Wagner said, "are at every school event, and can be found after school running clubs and competitions for 7th to 12th graders. It is rare to see a bunch of 15 year olds jumping with excitement to welcome a teacher into their midst, but as parents, that is what we were privileged to witness last night."

Wagner thanked Dr. Strange and Magistra "for all that you do to enrich the lives of the kids at Riverhead Middle and Riverhead High School."

Wagner sent her love and thanks on behalf of Riverhead High School 9th graders Billy Wagner, Sean Maki, Alex Matwey, Matt Yakaboski, Diego Sandoval, Pedro Arruda, Brianna Marichal, Kate Foley, Olivia Niewandomski, Kim Horvath, Isabella Williams, Chase Wanat, Shannon O'Brien, and Cas Lesiewicz.

Patch courtesy photo.