It’s been 9 months since Sandy struck, but Long Beach is still struggling to set things back in order. And it’s great that a guy so well-known makes the commitment both in time and money to keep us in people’s minds. Hint, hint … we still need your help folks.
Three weeks ago on Saturday, while most of us including me were in the Synagogue, Billy Crystal presented the City of Long Beach with two checks totaling $1 million. As he tells it, earlier this year at Muhammad Ali’s fundraiser for Parkinson’s disease which took place in Phoenix, a group led by Crystal which included Ali, Steve Martin, Robert Di Nero, and Robin Williams, raised $888,000 for the city’s relief fund, to assist the city to rebuild after Hurricane Sandy. As nice as $888,000 is, $1 million sounds a lot better. So Billy and his wife, Janice, presented a personal check for $112,000, to round off the donation to $1 million.
The next question I get asked if we are getting some of the funds for the community. Well I’m not sure as the donors are working with the city to decide its best use. I’m not counting on it so again, hint, hint
My dear friend Ely Altarac who helps run the Synagogue and has been instrumental in all charitable endeavors in town from the volunteer fire department to the VFW told me that Billy is a special guy.
While Ely knows Billy’s brother Joe, a city councilman for many years, he’s never met Billy. But he did remind me that Billy is a guy who is proud of his roots. Any time he is interviewed Billy always mentions he is from Long Beach.
It’s a great lesson to all of us. Never forget where you come from. Never forget your roots. When you can, be sure to help. Give your time and give your money.
A decade ago Billy Crystal came to make Broadway look mahvelous in his debut in “700 Sundays” – an autobiographical one-man show filled with stories and schtick. Headlines called it a one-mensch show. A few weeks ago on the sands of Long Beach he re-enacted his role, not as an actor, nor as a comedian, but as a mensch.