On July 14th, 2013 I lost a great friend and mentor to Colon Cancer. Tony Metcalf, Editor-in-Chief of Metro US, dreamed of making the world a better place through power of the pen. He lived by a simple creed and the belief that every human being is capable of kindness. His vision was to inspire his readers to spread goodwill among the masses. That epitome became the foundation of our friendship and what would become a massive coordinated effort to give less fortunate children and their families hope for the holidays.

I was packing up my belongings for the evening, when Tony asked what I had planned for the weekend… or as he’d put it; “what brilliant plans have you sorted over the holiday?” I told him about a fundraiser my friends and I did annually, collecting letters to Santa from emergency family, domestic violence shelters and hospitals. We’d raise the money, purchase gifts each child requested and deliver everything in the days before Christmas. Tony became intrigued, immediately overwhelmed with his vision to inspire the people of New York. He asked how to piece the idea together for the newspaper. From that moment onward, Metro Giving was conceived.

Over the course of the next two months, an extraordinary miracle unfolded. Thousands of readers mailed Christmas gifts to Metro’s offices, which would go to Toys for Tots and a number of Shelters throughout the five boroughs. Metro Giving became a regular column, featuring everyday people who go the extra mile to help perfect strangers. Every winter, Metro Giving continues to carry out Tony’s legacy in his memory.

I’ll never forget the day, Tony told me he was terminal. He had spent so much time away from his beloved wife and children, while running the paper in New York. It took a huge toll on him. He left his passionately cultivated, band of wordsmiths, confident that they’d carry out his legacy and returned home to England. Tony asked the select few, who knew of his fate to remain silent, so he could enjoy his final months with his family, remembered by us all at his finest.

Dedicating Smithtown Today to the memory of Tony Metcalf is only one small gesture of my gratitude. Whether I’m conducting an interview of someone, who has done something extraordinary for a total stranger or reporting on young teenagers, fundraising for a noble cause, it is always done in honor of Tony Metcalf. As editor-in-chief of Smithtown Today, I vow to continue Tony’s creed, inspiring our readers to give back to our community, praising those who live to make the world grander and to never let bias soil the truth in print.

-Nicole Garguilo