From Camper To Honoree, Plainview Resident Recognized For Years Of Service To Mid Island Y JCC

PLAINVIEW, NY — Longtime Plainview resident Darren Berk will be honored by the Mid Island Y JCC this summer for his decades of volunteer leadership and service to the community.

Berk first joined the Mid Island Y JCC in 1981 as a camper and continued as a counselor and volunteer. He has served on multiple committees over the years. Berk will be honored at the Annual Golf [and Pickleball] Outing on June 8.

"To think that, 45 years later, I’d be chosen as an honoree is both humbling and incredibly meaningful," he said. "I’m grateful for the chance to contribute to the JCC’s story and support the institution that has played such an important role in our family’s lives."

His commitment to the JCC has spanned generations, with his wife, Sybil, and children, Dylan and Hannah.

Both of his children have been deeply involved in volunteer efforts through the Mid Island Y JCC, their high school, and their synagogue, he said.

"It has been incredibly meaningful to see them grow into young adults who understand the value of mitzvahs and the responsibility we share to give back to our community," Berk said.

Much of his volunteer work has been focused on food security, supporting food pantries, participating in food packaging initiatives, and fundraising efforts.

He's most recently worked with the JCC's Barbara Sachs Traina to introduce pickleball to new players across JCC programs.

To be honored at the organization’s annual event this summer is a significant achievement, he said.

Berk said he began playing pickleball years ago, but it was the Mid Island Y JCC's programming that transformed the game into a community.

"Through the JCC, I met people I otherwise never would have crossed paths with — people who have since become friends," he said. "When the chance arose, I wanted to help others experience that same sense of inclusion and fun. Introducing players to the game, creating opportunities for people to connect, and watching relationships form on and off the court has been incredibly rewarding."

Berk grew up in Plainview and then lived in New York City with his wife. They decided to return to Plainview and have lived there since 2004.

"Returning to Plainview felt like coming home," he said. "I’ve been fortunate in life, personally and professionally, and so much of that success is rooted in the communities that supported me along the way. Being able to give back, and watching our children embrace those same values, is deeply fulfilling."

The Berk Family's dedication to the Mid Island Y JCC and volunteering efforts has cultivated over the years. Sibyl didn't grow up on LI, but she embraced the community wholeheartedly.

"As she became more involved in our synagogue and later the JCC, it became clear that we shared the same passion for supporting an institution that plays such a central role in the community," he said. "Giving back side by side, aligned in values and purpose, has been one of the great joys of our family’s journey."