Phillip Mathangani Lives on Through Scholarship Fund Created by Friends

BY ERIN MAHER

On Saturday, May 18, over 100 people attended the Phillip Mathangani Flag Football Tournament and Barbeque at Charles S. Eccher Park in Stony Point.

The proceeds from the tournament and barbeque went to the Philip Mathangani Scholarship Foundation. The Philip Mathangani Foundation was created last year, after North Rockland High School Class of ’06 and University of Pennsylvania alum Philip Mathangani passed away. Mathangani was an excellent student involved in many extra-curricular activities that included varsity tennis, orchestra, and volunteering at his church.

The Mathangani Foundation was formed by a large group of Mathangani’s friends and fellow NRHS peers. Last year, they awarded one graduating NRHS senior a $500 scholarship. This year, the foundation will be awarding the $500 scholarship in addition to two $250 scholarships.

“It was a tremendous group effort,” said Jill Sheridan of Pomona, friend and founding foundation member. “We had weekly skype meetings, and began planning in December.” The foundation coordinated and planned the entire event. This included solicitations for food and raffle donations from all across Rockland County. Donned in green t-shirts, with the logo, “PM,” Mathanagani’s initials, Sheridan and friends ran the event from selling raffle tickets, manning the grill, and overseeing the football games. Green is the color of Mathangani’s favorite football team, the Greenbay Packers, and it was only right that football, one of his favorite sports be enjoyed. The foundation founders were also responsible for determining the recipients of the scholarship, and read over every essay and resume submitted, of which there were 18 this year.

As the burgers were being grilled, the flag football tournament and the eight teams that competed took to the field. Each team was composed of five to seven players. The winners, who also displayed quite the team spirit dressed in coordinating red attire, won various prizes as well the glory of being named the flag football champions.

Despite the few rain drops that fell, community members, family, friends, neighbors, and even current high school students turned out for a great cause inspired by a man whose legacy is still a positive presence and contribution in the community.

For more information or to make a donation to the Phillip Mathangani Foundation, visit www.phillipmathangani.org or the Facebook page, www.facebook.com/PhillipMathanganiFoundation or follow on twitter, @PhilMFoundation.

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