A room named after New York Islander great Clark Gilles has opened at the Ronald McDonald House in New Hyde Park in recognition of his work for children who are physically or development challenged.
Former New York Islander players and the team’s owner joined Ronald McDonald officials at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Clark Gilles Media Room on Thursday, April 3.
“The thing that I love about this space is that it’s so versatile,” said Matt Campo, CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities NY Metro. “Whether families want to come in and watch TV or play video games or even use the computer station that we have here, there’s something for everyone in this space.”
Gilles is considered to be of the greatest players in New York Islanders’ history. He played for the team from 1974-86 and served as captain from 1977-79. Gilles won the Stanley Cup four years in a row with the team from 1980-83 and was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2002.
Gilles began the Clark Gilles Foundation in 1998, a non-profit organization developed to help children who are physically, developmentally, and/or financially challenged. The foundation has raised over $3.5 million for other charities, according to its website. Gilles died in 2022, but his foundation still helps others in the region.
The new room will provide kids with a space to cheer on the local hockey team and create a sense of home life, according to the Islanders. The room features the Islanders’ logos, replica lockers, murals of the team, Stanley Cup banners and a picture of Gilles himself.
“This would have been Clark’s dream,” said Pam Gillies, Clark’s wife and co-founder of the Clark Gilles Foundation. “It helps kids, it’s Islanders.”
The ribbon cutting was attended by several members of the Islanders organization, including co-owner Jon Ledecky, Hall-of-Famers Butch Goring and Bryan Trottier, as well as former players Josh Bailey, Johnny Boychuk, and Cal Clutterbuck.
The Ronald McDonald House is less than 15 minutes by car from the Islanders’ UBS Arena. The team has called Long Island home since its founding in 1972.
The ribbon-cutting took place a few days before what would have been Gilles’ 71st birthday.
