1. Athletic career
    Half Hollow Hills High School  Naval Academy Preparatory School  Hofstra University 

2. The Whitmore Group

3. Awards, recognition and philanthropy
    Hofstra University  Hofstra University Athletics Projects At Margiotta Hall  Other Notable Charities and Recognition 

4. References

5. External links

James C. “Jim” Metzger (born February 18, 1959) is an American businessman and philanthropist. He is the founder, chairman and CEO of The Whitmore Group, Ltd., a leading Long Island insurance brokerage and financial services firm that opened during 1989. Metzger is a former All-American lacrosse player at Hofstra University.

Metzger grew up in Dix Hills, New York, where his success as an athlete in the early part of his life was a strong influence on his later approach to business. His personal blog is titled "Everything I ever needed to know about business I learned on the sports field." Sports during the early years of his life also had a major impact on the focus of Metzger's philanthropy.

Athletic career

Half Hollow Hills High School

A 1977 graduate of Half Hollow Hills High School in Dix Hills, Metzger was a three-sport athlete at lacrosse, football and basketball.

As an All-American lacrosse player, Metzger won the Lt. Ray Enners Award as Outstanding Lacrosse Player in Suffolk County for the 1977 season. His scoring average of 6.0 points per game was a school record and led Suffolk County (Public Schools). During that same year, Metzger set school records for points in a season, and assists in a game, season and career.

Metzger also excelled in football, graduating as the school’s all-time leading scorer and rusher. He was a Suffolk County All-Star Running Back, known for starting 25 consecutive games and rushing for 2,155 yards, scoring 27 touchdowns and totaling 170 points. Metzger’s career total offense, including receptions and returns, was 2,777 yards. He led the team in scoring in 1974, 1975 and 1976, and rushing in 1975 and 1976.

For 1977, Metzger was the only high school athlete to be selected and participate in both the Suffolk County North – South All-Star Football Game and the North – South All-Star Lacrosse Game. He started at running back on the North Football Team and started at Attack for the North Lacrosse Team. Metzger also played basketball for the 1974-1975 school varsity basketball team in the Suffolk County Playoffs.

Metzger was recruited to play football by Syracuse, Cornell and Colgate. He was recruited to play lacrosse by Virginia, Army, Navy, Cornell, Penn State, Towson, North Carolina State and Hofstra.

Naval Academy Preparatory School

After High School, Metzger attended the Naval Academy Preparatory School. A starter at running back on the football team, He sustained a severe shoulder injury that ended his football career. However, he led the lacrosse Team in goals, assists and points, and he received the team’s Most Valuable Player Award.

Hofstra University

Metzger was a Division 1 All-American lacrosse player at Hofstra University. His sophomore record-setting scoring average of 4.9 points per game still stands. Metzger's single season average ranks fifth in the history of the program and his single season assist average ranks eighth all time.^[1] Metzger is one of only three players in the history of Hofstra's Men's Lacrosse to score eight or more points three times in one season. During the 1980 season, he recorded eight points in games against Penn State, Towson and North Carolina State.^[2]

The Whitmore Group

Over the years, The Whitmore Group, has steadily built the business to extend beyond insurance brokering. Besides a broad range of personal insurance services, the company focuses on special industries that include funeral services, transportation and livery, restaurants and hospitality, construction and bonding, fine arts and collectables, and the cannabis industry. Its business services encompass Whitmore Advisors, Whitmore Business Solutions, Equipment Management Maintenance Program and Whitmore Hospitality Group.

Located in Garden City, New York, the company has more than 70 employees.

Awards, recognition and philanthropy

Metzger is a frequent donor to educational, charitable and other organizations in the communities where he, clients and employees of The Whitmore Group work and live in the New York metropolitan area.

Philanthropic efforts include his high school and college alma maters, Half Hollow Hills and Hofstra University. St. Anthony’s High School, near where Metzger was raised, also has received contributions for its sports program.

Among the many additional organizations supported by Metzger and his company are Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island (BBBSLI), the Funeral Service Foundation (FSA), the American Heart Association, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, the New York City YMCA and the Hempstead PAL Lacrosse Program.

Hofstra University

Metzger is a frequent conrtibutor to the educational and athletic programs at Hofstra University in Uniondale, New York.

During 2012 Metzger donated $1.5 million, the largest gift ever received by Hofstra Athletics. Hofstra named The James C. Metzger Fund for Capital Improvements^[2] and The James C. Metzger Hofstra Lacrosse Endowment in his honor in appreciation of the gift.

Hofstra dedicated James C. Metzger Hall on April 7, 2015. Located on the west side of Shuart Stadium on the Hofstra campus, Metzger Hall includes The Fried Center (second floor), stadium suites (third floor) and the stadium press box (fourth floor).^[3] The Fried Center is the home for academic and career development pursuits and it also houses the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and the Athletic Department's community service program.

Metzger received the Hofstra Alumnus of the Year Award during 2016.^[4] The previous year, he was inducted into the Hofstra Athletics Hall of Fame.^[5] During 2012, Metzger received Hofstra University's Alumni Achievement Award,^[6] a recognition presented to alumni who have distinguished themselves in their chosen fields of endeavor and/or demonstrated outstanding service to the university. A year earlier, he received Hofstra's Joseph M. Margiotta Distinguished Service Award.^[7] Named for a Hofstra student-athlete and supporter of the university, the award is presented in recognition of extraordinary dedication, generosity and service to the Hofstra Pride Club and Hofstra athletics

Hofstra annuall presents two distinguished awards named in honor of Metzger. The Metzger-D’Innocenzo Endowed Summer Internship for the Center for Civic Engagement was established during 2009 with funding provided by Metzger.^[8] The award is offered to a deserving student based on academic achievement and/or financial need and who is a history major serving as an intern in the Center for Civic Engagement. The James C. Metzger Outstanding Sophomore Award for Lacrosse was established during 2012. Metzger ended his Hofstra lacrosse career after he was named All-American during his sophomore season. The university determined that this specific award should be named for the All-American.^[9]

Hofstra University Athletics Projects At Margiotta Hall

Metzger's philanthropic involvement with Hofstra University began during 2007 with several special projects that addressed improvements for Margiotta Hall, the three-story, 22,500 square-foot building that is the main field house for Hofstra athletics.^[10]

The Royle - Sombrotto Men's Lacrosse Locker Rooms at Hofstra were built that same year with funds donated by Metzger. According to Metzger, he wanted to memorialize the contributions to Hofstra lacrosse by two people who also had impacted his own life and career. One persion is his coach, Harry Royle, who was Hofstra's Head Men's Lacrosse Coach from 1976 through 1985. The other person is Vincent Sombrotto, a former teammate and professional lacrosse player who, according to Metzger, had a will to win and a level of intensity that made him "the closest thing to a perfect lacrosse player that I have ever seen."^[11]

The Hallway Traditions Project at Margiotta Hall was created to showcase the history of the men's and women's lacrosse programs and the football program. The project, funded by Metzger during 2009, was named for Hofstra standout athletes Mike D’Amato ‘68 and Lou DiBlasi ‘61. DiBlasi also was Metzger's coach at Half Hollow Hills High School.^[12]

The Lacrosse Reception Room was named after Gary Arnold '83 and the Unterstein family. Arnold was Metzger's teammate at Hofstra. He was a four-year letterman in lacrosse and team leader in goals for 1981 and 1982. Following graduation, he served as an assistant coach under Harry Royle. The Unterstein family is the only family in Hofstra lacrosse history collectively to earn conference player of the year (Chris, 2006), defensive player of the year (Kevin, 2008) and rookie of the year (Mike, 2005). Chris Unterstein earned 2005 first-team All-America honors while Kevin was an honorable mention All-American for 2007. The three brothers also participated in the North-South Senior All-star game (Chris, 2006; Kevin and Mike; 2008). Funding for renovations of the reception room was provided by Metzger during 2009.^[14]

The Metzger-Huff Lacrosse Offices at Hofstra University were dedicated during 2010 and named for Metzger and Kevin Huff (Hofstra '78). When Metzger learned that Hofstra planned to name the lacrosse offices for him, he insisted that the facility also honor Huff, who was an assistant coach when Metzger attended the university. A football and men's lacrosse standout, Huff was a two-time All-American in lacrosse, an All-American in football and he still holds the Hofstra record for rushing yards per game. Funding for the construction was provided by Metzger.^[13]

The women's lacrosse locker room was named to honor of James C. Metzger during 2010 in recognition of his support to the university’s women's lacrosse program.^[14]

Other Notable Charities and Recognition

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island (BBBSLI) named the James C. Metzger and E. David Woycik Endowment Fund during 2010 after both gentlemen presented the single largest contribution in the organization's history. That same year, Metzger was honored as the Big Brothers Big Sisters Man of the Year and its Presidential Honoree. His philanthropic spirit helped the organization raise $300,000 at its annual Presidential Gala.^[15]

Half Hollow Hills East High School established the James C. Metzger Outstanding Player Award during 2011 as an annual recognition presented to the school's best lacrosse player.^[16] The James C. Metzger Men's Lacrosse Endowment was established a year later. Metzger funded the endowment with a donation of $100,000 – the largest gift in the history of Half Hollow Hills.

The Funeral Service Foundation (FSA) has received substantial contributions from Metzger for its mission to provide grants, scholarships and research that support the funeral service industry. A past board member of the FSA, Metzger delivered the second half of a $100,000 gift to the organization during 2010.

The American Heart Association named Metzger as the sole honoree of its 2013 Golf Classic on Long Island. Metzger and The Whitmore Group were the major sponsor and helped raise almost $300,000, the largest contribution in the event's history.

The National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and Museum selected Metzger to receive its 2013 George Young Award. The recognition is presented to an individual, Jewish or non-Jewish, who has best exemplified the high ideals displayed by the late National Football League executive.

The Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame, in recognition of his high school athletic achievements, continued success in athletics at Hofstra University, and for his business and philanthropic contributions on Long Island, inducted Metzger as part of its class of 2014.^[17]

The Adelphi University Athletic Hall of Fame recognized Metzger as the 25th recipient of the Woodruff Lifetime Achievement Award during 2016. The honor recognizes “excellence in coaching, teaching and educating young adults while saluting an ambassador of sportsmanship and goodwill and stressing that the athletic experience enhances the educational experience and quality of life.”

James C. Metzger Stadium, the new 1,000-capacity stadium at St. Anthony's High School, in South Huntington, New York, was completed during 2016. Metzger is not a St. Anthony's alum, but he has become a benefactor to that school. Raised in the area, Metzger said the school was the epicenter of his world, calling it “a great environment, great history, great legacy both academically and, of course, athletically...”^[19]

Metzger’s philanthropic contributions have been featured in several of Long Island’s prominent publications, including Social Life Magazine (socialite Devorah Rose is editor-in-chief) and the Long Island Press. Metzger’s initiatives and programs were the cover story for Social Life Magazine’s September 2014 issue and for its September 2018 issue. (His company’s hospitality business was featured on the cover of the December 2018 issue). Metzger also was featured on the cover of the December 2018 issue of the Long Island Press.

References

External links

• www.jamesmetzger.net - Everything I Ever Wanted To Know About Business I Learned On The Sports Field
• Whitmore Group company website

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