THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 27, 1995 TAG: 9510260210
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY NANCY LEWIS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
Robin Hood and his merry men rode the highways and byways of old England, taking from the rich and giving to the poor by day, then seeking refuge in the dense cover of Sherwood Forest by night.
Not so for a Virginia Beach group of modern day benefactors who call themselves ``The Robin Hoods.'' Their cover remains intact night and day, a secret so closely guarded that members of the band say they have never even met their fearless leader.
``We don't know who Robin Hood is, but we get called on to help,'' said one of the troupe of 20, who declined to divulge his identity.
The Robin Hoods club is comprised of Virginia Beach businessmen who, like their counterparts of old, strive to redistribute wealth, though in a more civilized and law-abiding way.
The group hopes to raise at least $2,500 at a Halloween party Saturday. Partygoers may dance to the music of Ernie Lebeau & the Beach Blasters from 8 p.m. to midnight at the 67th Street Officers Club on the oceanfront. Beer, wine and food will be served, and prizes for best costumes will be awarded. Tickets for the posh affair cost $25 per person, $45 per couple.
Most of the proceeds will go to Edmarc Hospice, a Portsmouth-based organization that helps catastrophically ill children and their families. A smaller portion will go to the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund.
It was member Joe Thatcher's original Halloween party to benefit UNICEF in 1985 that snowballed into The Robin Hoods' costume gala of this year.
Thatcher was so encouraged by the success of the first Halloween benefit at his Bay Colony home that he repeated it nine years running, collecting $5 from each person who stopped by the festivities. Though he annually raised several hundred dollars, Thatcher eventually decided that he wanted to see the results benefit children locally.
``I realized it wasn't doing anything for the kids right here in Virginia Beach,'' he said. So he and his friends formed The Robin Hoods.
``We just like to help people,'' explained one of the band. ``Let those who have, have the opportunity to give to those who don't.''
Edmarc Hospice provides family-centered care, including nursing and home therapy, parent and sibling support and bereavement care for children throughout Hampton Roads. The organization, which has been in existence for 16 years, began through the efforts of Dr. and Mrs. Allen Hogge of Suffolk, whose son, Marcus, was afflicted with a terminal illness. Finding that no services existed for such children and their families, the Hogges sought out the pastor at Suffolk Presbyterian Church and together they founded Edmarc, so named in memory of Marcus Hogge and the Rev. Ed Page.
The Robin Hoods will earmark the money that goes to Edmarc for an ill child and his or her family this Christmas. They hope to be able to provide gifts and a holiday meal, at the least.
``We'd like to do lots more for the family, but it depends on the event,'' said one of ``the hoods,'' a man who looked to be in his late 20s.
The Robin Hoods are all fathers and say they they are drawn together out of a common desire to do something for the community. They plan to have other fund-raisers - perhaps as many as three each year - and will choose different local children's charities each time.
``And if you're not having fun, you can't raise funds,'' said another of the anonymous band. ``The more mystery to it, the more fun.''
As the men turned their backs for a group photo, one explained, ``It's to keep a little bit of anonymity.''
``We're not doing it for the publicity; we're doing it to help others,'' said another man in his 30s.
Of course, unlike the original Robin Hood and his followers, these 20th century ``hoods'' don't strong-arm others to help the poor. ``At least not in public,'' joked Thatcher, turning his head to the camera. by CNB