'Nice Things' to support small businesses with NCAA basketball betting pool

In anticipation of the Super Bowl this year, Todd Weinstein hosted a different kind of box betting pool.

He runs a Facebook group called “Nice Things that Happen in East Meadow,” which has held a number of fundraisers for community causes. Rather than focus on the big game, Weinstein invited members of the group to take part in box betting pools for the AFC and NFC championship games.

The prizes were gift cards to restaurants that are members of the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce. “It was so successful that we’re going to do it again,” Weinstein said.

He plans to bring back the effort by setting up another box pool for the NCAA Final Four on April 3, as college basketball wraps up its season.

Bettors can buy boxes for two games for $25, and, once again, the prizes will be gift cards to East Meadow restaurants. Last time, Weinstein purchased gift cards for Garden Social, Jake’s Steakhouse, the Greene Turtle, the Apollo Diner, the Colony Diner, Mama Theresa’s and La Novella. This time he’s hoping to include even more restaurants.

He also plans to bring back another feature of the football contest. After all the money was counted, he set aside three $120 donations for East Meadow’s American Legion Post 1082, the Mary Brennan Interfaith Nutrition Network, in Hempstead, and a nonprofit food-delivery service called Drive Out Hunger Inc.

Weinstein will start accepting box purchases once the final four teams are determined ahead of the April 3 games. Within three days of announcing the football fundraiser, he had sold all 100 boxes and had to turn people away.

“It was amazing to see how many people were willing to participate,” Weinstein said. “As the weather gets better, hopefully more people will come out and support these businesses that have been so supportive of our community.” He was referring to local businesses’ sponsorships of Little League teams and events, PTA programs and community events.

“The last thing we want to see is more vacant storefronts on East Meadow Avenue or Hempstead Turnpike,” he said.

Following the NFL fundraiser, Weinstein received a letter thanking him for his efforts from Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin. “You are an extraordinary example of the hard working individuals in the Town of Hempstead community,” the letter read. “On behalf of the 770,000 residents of the Town of Hempstead, I thank you for your unwavering commitment to our community.”

Weinstein’s philanthropy began when he started the Facebook group five years ago, to counteract the rude comments and harsh arguments that often pit neighbor against neighbor on the social media site, he said. Not long after the page was set up, it evolved into a conduit for charitable causes when Ben Diamond, 52, of East Meadow, a friend of Weinstein’s, encouraged him to host a school supplies drive for the Mary Brennan INN.

“We have over 3,200 followers in the Nice Things group,” Weinstein said. “I’m only one person. I’m nothing without the support of everyone in the group.”