Gershow Recycling donates to Play for Peace soccer tournament

Gershow Recycling, a metals recycling company with nine locations throughout New York state, has sponsored and donated $2,000 to help defray the costs of the seventh annual Play for Peace/Jugando Por La Paz soccer tournament, which was Aug. 8, 2015, at the Patchogue-Medford Youth Soccer Complex in Medford, New York.

Pictured, from left: Jonathan Abrams, manager, Gershow Recycling; Joselo Lucero, brother of Marcelo Lucero; Robert Calarco, Suffolk County legislator and organizer of the Play for Peace soccer tournament; and Matt Greco, pastor, Assembly of God, Wading River

Play for Peace seeks to bring together diverse nationalities within the community for a full day of World Cup-style soccer and to use sports as a way for people from different ethnic backgrounds to find common ground. This year’s tournament was organized by the Office of Suffolk County Legislator Robert Calarco.

The Play for Peace soccer tournament was first organized in 2009 through the office of then Suffolk County Legislator Jack Eddington in conjunction with the Patchogue-Medford Youth Soccer League as a response to the death of Marcelo Lucero. Marcelo was stabbed to death in an assault at the Patchogue, Long Island, train station at the age of 37. The attack, committed by seven teenagers, was racially motivated.

In 2011, when Robert Calarco was elected as Suffolk County legislator, he carried on the tradition of presenting the tournament.

Joselo Lucero, Marcelo’s brother, spoke to the crowd about the importance of having an event such as this to bring the community together.

Approximately 500 spectators came to this free event. Twelve teams—eight men’s teams and four women’s teams—participated in the tournament. In the men’s division, the Patchogue-Medford Congress of Teachers won, while Rudi’s Bar & Grill won the women’s division. The Team Sportsmanship Award went to the North Shore Youth Council.

“Gershow Recycling is pleased again to support this year’s Play for Peace,” said Kevin Gershowitz, company president. “We salute former Legislator Eddington for establishing this event and Legislator Calarco for continuing it as an effort to bring members of our diverse communities together and build understanding through sports.”