Mariner's Bank President Jim Cockinos and Chairman Fred Dabies both have children with autism, so they know the challenges families face. For that reason, their bank is sponsoring a celebrity golf tournament tomorrow in Alpine, hosted by former Giants linebacker Carl Banks, to raise money for the Bergen Community College Autism Center, a facility designed to teach children and families how better to cope with the disease.
“There are a lot of children who have been diagnosed and their parents don’t have the resources to help them find their niche in life," Cockinos said.
The event, to be held at the Montammy Golf Club in Alpine, includes breakfast, 18 holes of championship golf and high stakes "Texas Hold ‘Em" (for non-golfers), dinner and and an auction. Prizes include cars, jewelry, electronics, travel, and sports packages.
Banks will be joined by former teammate Lawrence Taylor, as well as the legendary Jim Brown, rapper Doug E. Fresh, Montel Williams, actors Dan Grimaldi, Richard Kind and Steven ("The Sopranos") Schrippa and former heavyweight boxer Gerry Cooney.
The former Super Bowl champ and Pro Bowler got involved after his business partner’s twin sons were diagnosed with autism. Three months later, their father, Michael Cohen, died of cancer. Banks quickly stepped in to help Cohen’s widow with the twins, becoming their self-appointed “uncle.”
Autism is a severe developmental disorder that is diagnosed within the first two-and-a-half years of life. Most autistic children appear perfectly normal, but spend their time engaged in puzzling and disturbing behavior.
One in 94 children in New Jersey is diagnosed with autism, said Dr. Jeff Boscamp, head of pediatrics at Hackensack Medical Center.
To which Banks said: “The high number of diagnoses means that there are a lot of families in need of help.”
Bergen Community College President Dr. Jerry Ryan said the college’s autism center will offer courses, training and educational programs for children diagnosed with autism.
“It’s a place where children with autism can go to college and get an education,” said Ryan. “Some of the kids are able to negotiate the daily classes and others are training for jobs in the community they can handle.”
Cockinos, for one, is excited about the prospects: "The Bergen Community College Autism Center will help prepare them to be productive."
For more information, go to: Carl Banks/Mariner's Bank Celebrity Golf & Poker Tournament
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