Caring for Long Island’s Hungry: One Doodle at A Time

By R. B. Stuart
Hamptons Online

June 25, 2007

In 1977 Long Island native Frank Duffy, was attending The School of Visual Arts in Manhattan for graphic design and illustration.  He decided to write singer/songwriter and activist Harry Chapin, of “Cat’s in The Cradle” fame, to ask if he could as a personal project, draw his Huntington Bay beach house. “I never thought he’d reply, but he did and invited me out for the day.  I knew he had an interesting house and was very accepting of meeting his fans,” Duffy remembered.  Duffy spent the day on Chapin’s lawn sketching his house.  Not only did he take a sketch away from that encounter, but the intention of “doing something” good.  As Chapin was determined to help others and make a difference, he shared his passion to do so.

Chapin’s fortitude to stomp out world hunger sent him knocking on the political doors of Washington, but his mission would fall on deaf ears.  He changed course when someone suggested he focus instead on addressing hunger in his own back yard.  So he redirected his efforts to educate people on LI, and even if he wasn’t able to end world hunger, then at least he could end one persons hunger.  His motto, "To know is to care, to care is to act, to act is to make a difference."

In 1980 Chapin founded the non-for-profit, Long Island Cares and The Harry Chapin Food Bank.  It’s the regional food bank for Long Island, and works with over 600 human service agencies across Nassau and Suffolk Counties.  Their mission is to bring all available resources together for the benefit of the hungry on Long Island.  Their goals are to provide emergency food where and when it is needed; sponsor programs that help families achieve self-sufficiency and educate the general public about the causes and consequences of hunger on Long Island.

Chapin was unable to see the fruition of his humanitarian work, in 1981 five months shy of his 39th birthday he died in a fatal car accident.  He was on the LIE enroute to a concert at Eisenhower Park.  Executive Director of Long Island Cares, Lynn Needelman said, “He was a dynamo, and accomplished so much in such a short time. It was a tragic end to a beautiful life.  There’s been a common thread over the last 27 years at LI Cares to end hunger.  First feed them, then provide programs to help them be self-sufficient to help feed themselves.”  In 2006 LI Cares distributed over five million pounds of food, which is equivalent to four million meals.  They distribute to over 600 Nassau and Suffolk County organizations, feeding 259,000 hungry Long Islanders are helped annually.

The seed Chapin planted in Duffy when he was in his 20s, was to “do something” for charity, and it still rang in his ear.  So in 1991, Duffy began collecting doodles and sketches. “I thought if I wrote to celebrities and asked for a doodle, I could gather them and put them in a book.  Most were receptive,” Duffy informed.  Newsday columnist and author Ed Lowe was his first.  He also wrote to Robert Redford and received a reply asking if there was a deadline.  “I told him there wasn’t and a year later he sent me a doodle along with a contract to sign protecting his name.  So far he’s been the only one to do that.”

Duffy’s favorite doodle, a cartoon character was sent by Milton Glazer, who designed the WTC observation deck as well as the popular “I Love NY” logo. “  He was teaching at The School of Visual Arts when I attended there, and now the classes are standing room only.”  Duffy’s made good momentum with his collection, thus far is over 160 pieces.  He’s received over 172 responses from celebrities eager to sketch a doodle to help in the cause.  A sampling of his eclectic mix: Dan Aykroyd, Pat Boone, Carol Burnett, Chevy Chase, Hugh Hefner, Jay Leno, Brooke Shields, Whoopi Goldberg, and Diane Von Furstenberg.

Duffy labored over finding a way for people to see the collection and wanted to present them as a piece of art. “ Because that’s what they are - art.”  He thought about plates or mugs but decided they were ‘too cheesy.’  In late 2004 he did a sample batch of LI author, Nelson DeMille’s doodle on a white ceramic square and DeMille himself bought 20.  Early on, Duffy reached out to LI Cares with his doodles, and in 2005 with his clever idea to imprint the image on ceramics, they gave him permission to sell them on their web site, in return Duffy gives them a portion of the proceeds.  So his “doing something” is the Celebrity Ceramic Collection.

Needelman said, “There’s a lot of people that come to us and want to help.  But Frank had a uniqueness and determination.  Coupled with his knowledge of Harry Chapin, and believing in his mission for LI Cares.  Frank had a great idea and the capability to follow though.  Besides that, he’s a good guy and really wants to help LI Cares.  He put his heart and soul into it, and it’s taken a long time to see this idea finally blossom. In all, it’s a good thing and it’s helping LI Cares.”

His most popular sellers are Nelson DeMille and singer Phil Collins.  Collins was so taken by Duffy’s innovativeness he added the LI Cares/Celebrity Ceramics link to his web site.  In September, Phil Collins will be playing The Meadowlands and The Garden with Genesis.  Duffy hopes the publicity from that event will give a boost to LI Cares, The Harry Chapin Foodbank, and Celebrity Ceramics.  Thanks to the interest and input of Phil Collins and many others, his effort is slowly getting National and Worldwide attention.

This undertaking has changed Duffy, “Because of what I learned about Harry Chapin and his selfless work.  It’s important for me to be around and be involved with people that are trying to make something happen, as I try do my best to make a difference.  Between the ceramics and my graphic design efforts, I find both challenging and rewarding. It’s a fun, creative, worthwhile endeavor,” he ended.

The Celebrity Ceramic’s collection includes doodles by Patrick McDonnell ("Mutts" cartoonist), Norm Crosby, Grace Slick, Eli Wallach, Phyllis Diller and others.  To view them visit www.licares.org and click on Celebrity Ceramics.  Each ceramic is 6 X 6 ($15.00) and comes with a tabletop easel. Duffy donates 15% of each purchase to LI Cares to help their fight against hunger.  You can contact Frank Duffy directly at 516-356-1205 or barrett1204@yahoo.com.  For more information about LI Cares donations and volunteering, call 631 582-FOOD (3663) or visit their website above.  Because hunger is closer to home than you think.

Click here for more information on Celebrity Ceramics!