Magee Hickey, the accomplished news reporter with decades of experience at major television networks, including, NBC and CBS, and most recently at PIX 11 and NY1 has chosen to follow in her parent’s footsteps by supporting Astor. Lawrence (Larry) and Jean Hickey, Magee’s parents, have supported Astor since the early 1980’s. Mr. Hickey was on the Board of Directors from 1981 until 2004, and a benefactor of Astor.
During that time, he oversaw the purchase and renovation of a two-room, Victorian Gothic schoolhouse known as “The Little Red Schoolhouse.” It was renamed in honor of him and is now called the Lawrence F. Hickey Center for Child Development (Hickey Center), Astor’s therapeutic early childhood development program in the Bronx. This program provides early childhood and mental health services to a group of 3-5 year old children with emotional and cognitive needs.
Having Parents Like Larry And Jean was
“Like Winning The Lottery.”
Photo by Joel Weisbrod.
“I was always extremely proud of my parents,” says Hickey, who describes having parents like Larry and Jean as “winning the lottery.” She does not mean in terms of money, but in terms of having great parents who set wonderful examples for her and her siblings; Elizabeth, Frank and Jane.
Mr. and Mrs. Hickey were committed to ensuring the world becomes a better place for children and families. It is with this foundation that Magee and her siblings were inspired to continue the legacy of giving back to their community.
Magee developed the idea of having a cabaret as a fundraiser for the Hickey Center, and as a tribute to her mom, who passed away in 2007. Her mom loved singing songs from the Great American Songbook. In the years when her mom was ill, Magee and her husband hosted dinners where they would all get together to eat and sing songs from the Songbook.
Afraid to Sing in Public as a Child
When Magee’s mom passed away, Magee began to take singing classes. Although Magee loved performing, she was afraid to sing in public. When she sings, Magee says, “I hear my mom. I think of her and know how much she would have loved to see me on stage singing.”
Magee’s father, who passed away in 2011, was her biggest fan at the Cabaret. “Father loved people, and loved to go different cabaret performances, and father will always be in the front row,” she says.
Others In The Hickey Family Are Also
Large Supporters Of Astor
In addition to Magee and her efforts to support Astor with the yearly Cabaret she puts on with her newscaster colleagues, others in the Hickey family are also large supporters of Astor. Magee’s sister, Elizabeth Lavin, is now a member of Astor’s Board of Directors, and also volunteers her time by raising funds for the Cabaret.
The third generation of Hickey children are also on the move! One grandchild is working in the social services field, while another and her husband have donated to the Hickey Center each year in her grandparents’ memory. It looks as though Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Hickey have inspired their descendants to give back to their community.