“I can tell you that there is nothing like seeing the face of a child light up as he or she receives a new toy for the holidays,” said toy drive co-founder Brian Gotlieb as he presented plaques to six “surrogate moms” for their selfless community work during a tribute brunch in Coney Island.
The pre-Mom’s Day salute, presented by Shorefront Toys for Tots and held at Peggy O’Neill’s on West 19th Street and Surf Avenue, honored the Good Samaritans for helping “improve the lives of thousands of children” in the area through the organization’s seasonal gift drives.
The honorees were: Pastor Larnie Mae Mobley, Community Baptist Church of Coney Island; Sheryl Robertson, South Brooklyn Youth Consortium; Laura Smith, New Freedom Baptist Church; Margaret Williams, Coney Island Gospel Assembly Church; Rosa Wyche, Coney Island Houses Residents Association; and Pam Harris, Coney Island Generation Gap.
Shorefront Toys for Tots was established in memory of Gotlieb’s mother, Myrna Helene Gotlieb, who passed away in 1993 at the age of 52, and who her son said stressed the importance of “giving back and being active in the community.”
