How a Heart of Surfing event became a reminder of what matters most
Letter from the editor
Some days have a way of changing your perspective. Saturday was one of those days.
It was a glorious morning on the beach in front of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City. This Heart of Surfing event is a highlight of the summer for me. Hard Rock graciously hosts our nonprofit organization attracting over 100 special needs families to surf with dozens of volunteers. The Eagles Autism Foundation, along with Swoop and several Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders showed up to make the day even more memorable for the children and young adults with autism and related disabilities we serve.
At one point, I found myself standing in the water alongside George Goldhoff, president of Hard Rock Atlantic City. I’d only seen him at events, very well dressed but here on the beach he wore swim trunks like every other guy. No suit and tie. We helped a girl with special needs sit onto one of our adaptive seated boards. Slowly, we pushed her past the breaking waves and turned the board so it faced the beach. I took the first wave back to shore with her. She smiled from ear to ear, soaking in every second of the ride. George caught the next wave with her. The incoming tide made the surf bigger than I was used to, but seeing her joy made it so worthwhile.
As I looked around, I realized I never could have imagined life would bring me to that moment — partnering with the president of a major casino resort to help give one young girl the ride of her life.
What struck me even more occurred as the surfing program was wrapping up.
As I thanked George and the Hard Rock team for volunteering, they thanked me. George was genuinely grateful for the opportunity to serve. My assumptions about someone in his position could not have been more wrong. He was not focused on titles or status. He was warm, approachable, compassionate and eager to work alongside everyone else, doing whatever needed to be done.
Then came my second lesson of the day. As we packed our trailer with 25 adaptive surfboards, more than 100 life jackets and the rest of our equipment, our van became stuck in the sand. At first, I thought we would have it free in a few minutes.
An hour later, we were still there, exhausted and baking in the afternoon sun. Hard Rock team members jumped in to help. Friends and volunteers let air out of the tires, searched for pieces of wood for traction, unhitched the heavy trailer and pushed. Still, the van would not budge.
Then, a homeless man who had been watching nearby walked over. He offered a few suggestions, rolled up his sleeves and got down in the sand beside us. He dug with his hands, pushed alongside everyone else and worked tirelessly to help complete strangers. He never asked for recognition or anything in return.
When the van still refused to move, Steel Pier owner Anthony Catanoso and members of his team walked over. Anthony brought his personal truck, attached a tow rope to the van’s axle, and within moments it was free. We hitched the trailer and Bob drove it down the boardwalk ramp.
Standing there, I realized something simple but profound.
The president of Hard Rock, the owner of Steel Pier and a homeless man had far more in common than anyone might expect. Titles, careers, bank accounts and social status may shape how the world sees us, but they do not define who we are.
Character does.
At the end of the day, what matters most is not the position we hold. It is whether we are willing to show up, lend a hand and make someone else’s burden a little lighter.
Those are the people who leave the greatest impression — and the greatest legacy.
Peace & Love, Cindy
