Mentoring Huntington Station's Youth

Children descended on Manor Field Park on East Fifth Street in Huntington Station on Sunday for the first Young Leaders Day.

Kevin Thorbourne, a local youth mentor, put together the event, which sprung from his group Young Leaders. Thorbourne started Youth Leaders as a way to keep its members out of trouble, while also spreading awareness to other young people in the Huntington Station community. 

As a parent and mentor, Thorbourne works with 200 "Young Leaders" throughout the year. As part of his program, he travels with members of his group to participate in positive programs which help keep children off the streets.  

"There's no reason why we can't have peace in our community and that's why we're doing these events," Thorbourne said.

Ryan Mulligan, 17, a student at Huntington High School, is the president of Young Leaders. He said the purpose of Young Leaders Day was, "so all the kids could just get out and have a good time, and so everyone forgets about all the violence and they could just come have fun."

Young Leaders Day, for children ages 5-12, featured food, inflatable rides, face painting, a raffle for 10 bicycles, as well as free lunchboxes and backpacks.

Officers Drew Fiorillo and John Chiquitucto were present and were fingerprinting children, so each child would have a record of their own fingerprints.

Rep. Steve Israel, D-Huntington, was also in attendance, along with Steve Rossetti, finance chair of the Huntington Town Democratic Committee.

"This is exactly the kind of event the community needs," Israel said.

The sponsors of the event included: Kevin Thorbourne, Police Athletic League (PAL), Dave & Buster's Inc., Mac-bounce Service Suffolk, Nassau and Queens, Timmy's Landscaping & Masonry Company, Express Convenience, Xavier A. Palacios Attorney at Law, Centennial Homes Realty Inc., Cheryl Mellina Photography, Daniel J. Guido Memorial Fund, Whitman Village Maintenance, Brothers Barber Shop, The Fiordelisi Family, The Breland Family, Richard Hall, Kevin Zaharios, Anthony Henderson, Kenyon Greene, Terrish McCoy, Judge Jerry Asher, Walter Edwards, Jr., Quincy Nelson, Kirk Brister and Pastor Lionel Smith of Faith Missionary Baptist Church.