IN THIS ISSUE
Match Events What fun activities have our matches been up to? Info and Photos on page 3!
Scholarship Three BBBSLI School Based Mentoring Program volunteers receive money for college Find out who on page 2!
Agency Events Golf Outing on p. 4, Walk for Kids’ Sake Surpasses $50,000 on p. 8 and Annual Picnic on p. 7!
scoop THE big
Summer 2014
www.bbbsli.org
A publication of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island
Little Spotlight
Meet Little Sister Amirah
Amirah has been a “Little” Sister for just over a year with “Big” Sister, Melissa. They have both shared some amazing memories during the past year such as Amirah’s first hockey game, sailing, the BBBSLI Picnic and Winter Blast. “Melissa is part of the family and has been an amazing role model for me,” says Amirah. An avid cheerlerader, Amirah is supported 100% by Melissa and wants to continue with cheerleading through college and out of college. In school, Amirah has always done well but thanks to Melissa’s help, for the first time ever, Amirah received academic awards for math, science and art. “With school and cheerleading, Melissa has always provided that extra boost of selfesteem,” says Amirah. The match beween Melissa and Amirah has been a huge success! Thanks to Melissa’s mentoring Amirah has a new found interst in sports. Amirah says, “I didn’t have a huge interest in sports but going to the Met game with Melissa was a great experience!”
“Big” Sister Melissa and “Little” Sister Amirah
Amirah’s growth over the past year has made a huge impact on her family. Alexis, Amirah’s mom said “Every child should have someone else besides a parent or guardian and having Melissa as a mentor has been incredible for Amirah.”
Summer 2014 bbbsli.org
Big Spotlight
Meet Big Brother Ralph Ralph has been a “Big” Brother to “Little” Brother Felix for the last 3 1/2 years. A married father, employee at a local Long Island business and volunteer firefighter, Ralph always finds time to spend with Felix. “I am really excited that I was given the opportunity to mentor such a great kid like Felix. Felix has been a great little brother and I am grateful for being introduced to him and his family,” says Ralph. Some of the activities Ralph and Felix like to do include, going to lunch, talking about family, friends, school and going to sporting events with tickets provided through donations to BBBSLI. “I look forward to seeing Felix continue to grow into a young adult. He is about to take his permit test to start driving in August and he also just passed the lifeguard test so he can find his first job.” Ralph chose to volunteer with BBBSLI thanks to a girlfiend at the time who decided to volunteer with her local chapter where she was going to college and recommended that Ralph do the same. “Big” Brother Ralph and “Little” Brother Felix
Ralph says, “I hope Felix continues to do well in school and continues to have a good head on his shoulders.”
East End Scholarship Winners
Three BBBSLI Participants Receive Scholarships for College
We are thrilled to announce that three high school seniors from Hampton Bays High School, who were a part of the BBBSLI School Based Mentoring Program, received over $30,000 in scholarship money thanks to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island and NBTY Helping Hands. Congratulations to Brianna Thompson who received $5,500 from BBBSLI and $10,000 from NBTY Helping Hands, Katherine Medrano who received $2,500 from BBBSLI and $10,000 from NBTY Helping Hands and Ana Figueroa who received $2,500 from BBBSLI. All of the scholarship money will go towards continuing their education at colleges throughout the New York state area. Brianna Thompson, was a Big Sister for two years and during her senior year at Hampton Bays High School was involved with the Mock Trial team, FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America), SADD, the Varsity Club, Varsity Cheerleading, Captain of the Varsity Girls Soccer team and held a part-time job. Brianna will be attending Baruch College in
New York City in the fall where she wants to pursue a law degree. Katherine Medrano was also a Big Sister for two years and while at Hampton Bays High School she was a member of the Varsity Soccer team, Varsity Track team, the Robotics Club, FBLA and Key Club. In addition, Katherine interned at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City on two separate occasions during her senior year and will start her career path of becoming a Cardiologist this fall while she attends Suffolk Community College. Ana Figueroa, was a Big Sister for one year and during her senior year at Hampton Bays High School she was a member of the winter and spring Varsity Track team, volunteered at a Southampton animal shelter and held a part-time job at a local Southampton company. Ana will be attending Morrisville State College in New York in the fall and will be majoring in Equine Science and Management. Summer 2014 bbbsli.org p2
Take Me Out to the Ballgame!
Thanks to a very generous donation from 1-800-Flowers.com, about 40 matches were able to see the New York Mets take on the Texas Rangers on July 6th. The Mets took the win with a score of 8-4 and kids were able to run the bases after the game.
Ahoy! Big and Little Sisters Hit the High Seas!
Eight matches headed out to Sag Harbor on July 12th to take part in the “AdventureSail” program organized by the Women’s Sailing Foundation and Breakwater Yacht Club. Our matches took part in a sailboat race, awards ceremony and enjoyed lunch.
Donate Your Tickets!
If you or someone you know has tickets they cannot use, please consider donating them to BBBSLI for our Bigs & Littles. Contact our main office at 516.731.7880 ext. 227 Summer2014 bbbsli.org p3
18th Annual Golf Tournament $103,000 Raised to help one-to-one mentoring
The 18th Annual Golf Tournament, held June 2nd, at The Muttontown Club in East Norwich, raised $103,000 in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island.The sold out event, sponsored by CMS Electrical Services, Inc. included breakfast, 18 holes of golf, on-course BBQ lunch, cocktail reception, gourmet buffet dinner and awards. At the event, BBBSLI honored James Conboy, Senior Vice President at AMC Networks Inc. and member of the BBBSLI Board of Directors. Special thanks to this year’s honoree, James Conboy, as well as presenting sponsor, CMS Electrical Inc.. Other sponsors include: Ike, Molly & Steven Elias Foundation, Barnes & Noble, Velocity, AMC Networks Inc., Continental Home Loans Inc., Nixon Peabody, Mass Mutual Financial Group, Dantona Industries, Holden & Flynn Universal Contractors Inc., New York Life, Broadridge, Jeremy Klopper, Lloyd, Jack Terrana Landscape Design, Barket Marion Epstein & Kearon, LLP, Merrick Madmen, and The Michael Huseby Family.
Gala Kick-Off Cocktail Reception $100,000 Pledged towards the 16th Annual Presidential Gala
At the Crest Hollow Country Club on July 24th BBBSLI hosted a cocktail reception to officially announce the Man of the Year, Woman of the Year and Organization of the Year as a precursor to the 16th Annual Presidential Gala on October 2nd.
Those in attendance were touched by Big Sister Nikki and her Little Sister Jesica as they shared their stories about being a part of the BBBSLI family. The honorees also warmed the hearts of the crowed by sharing their excitement and encouraging words about the work BBBSLI does for the Long Island community. In total, close to $100,000 was pledged towards the 16th Annual Presidential Gala. If you are interested in attending or learning more about the event, please contact Deanna Tropeano at: dtropeano@bbbsli.org. We hope to see you in October!
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Board Update We are proud to announce and welcome our newest member of the Board of Directors. Richard Grossi is the Executive Vice President, Global Operations and Support at OpenLink, the global leader in Transaction Lifecycle Management (TLM) software for the commodity, energy and financial services industries. Through OpenLink, Mr. Grossi has supported the annual Holiday for Kids’ Sake program by donating and delivering gifts to the doorsteps of BBBSLI families. In addition, he is playing an instrumental role in establishing a site-based mentoring program at the global headquarters of OpenLink in Uniondale, Long Island. “I am extremely excited to join a very qualified team at BBBSLI. After meeting with various members of this organization, I was impressed with both the vision of the organization as well as the people involved.” Mr. Grossi also volunteers with various youth sports organizations in Melville, where he resides with his wife and two children.
Run or Dye
BBBSLI receives $7,500 as Charity Partner
On April 12th at Nassau Coliseum, BBBSLI was the official charity partner of Run or Dye, the world’s most colorful 5K fun run. Selected as the Official Charity Partner, BBBSLI received a generous financial contribution for every volunteer that registered for the event. More than 200 volunteers came in support of BBBSLI and helped raise $7,500.
Volunteer Appreciation Reception A Night to Thank our Volunteers
On April 8th BBBSLI celebrated their volunteer mentors (‘Bigs’) at the Volunteer Appreciation Reception, sponsored by Darby Dental. The reception was held at the Crest Hollow Country Club during National Volunteer Appreciation Week, highlighting over 25,000 cumulative hours of time and energy volunteers spent annually to positively impact the lives of children on Long Island. During the evening’s program, all Big Brothers and Big Sisters were acknowledged for their volunteerism in mentoring children facing adversity.
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“ My Big has taught me how to be myself.” Little Brother, RaySean Record Breaking Clothing Drive
Summer Sizzle Poker Tournament
The house was certainly full at The Main Event in Farmingdale on July 29th for the Summer Sizzle Poker Tournament. Over one-hundred people doubled down in support of mentoring and helped raised close to $25,000 to benefit the cause.
Our presenting sponsor, Davy Jones Locker and table sponsors, New York Life, Network As part of a Spring Cleaning clothing drive campaign, Hauppauge-based Long Island (NLI), Steve Madden, The ClearVision Optical donated a record-breaking six tons of clothing to Big Whitmore Group LTD., Merrick Madmen, Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island, making it the largest clothing drive in the Executive Business Association (EBA), tri-state area to date. This generous donation translates into four children be- CHIPS Technology Group and Iron Cover ing matched with a “Big”, helping BBBSLI to continue to make a difference in Partners helped support the event.
Spring Cleaning at ClearVision Optical
the lives of children who could benefit from a one-to-one mentoring relationPrizes for the night included sports memoship.
rabilia, East End wine tour getaway, NY Mets tickets, a 32’” LCD TV and much more. The tournament champion, Andrew Smith, took home a $1,500 Las Vegas or Connecticut getaway package closing out the nights events around 12:30am! Thanks to all those who helped make the night a memorable one. We look forward to seeing you all at the next poker tournament on November 18th!
Student Organizes Shoe Drive End of the school year project helps BBBSLI
Julia, a 10 year old student at West Lake Elementary, wanted to close out her school year on a high-note. With permission from her Principal, Julia orchestrated a shoe drive for Big Brothers Big Sisters with her schoolmates from West Side Elementary in Laurel Hollow. Julia is the perfect example of never being too young to do something good!
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Annual Summer Picnic Sponsored by NBTY Helping Hands
On June 7th at Heckscher State Park, BBBSLI hosted its Annual Summer Picnic. The picnic, which was sponsored by NBTY Helping Hands is a great place for matches to come together, network, exchange ideas and celebrate being a part of the BBBSLI family. The picnic featured food, inflatables, cotton candy, a DJ, giveaways, sand art tables and games for all. Barnes & Noble provided books, the NY Cosmos had a table and Play it Forward provided sporting equipment. In addition, Big Brother Mike Oliveri, Vice President, Purchasing and Planning from NBTY Helping Hands and his Little Brother, Juan were in attendance and spoke of their experience with BBBSLI. Thank you to all who attendend and our sponsors. We look forward to seeing everyone next summer!
Recent Grant Providers
Thank You to those Who Support BBBSLI
Recently BBBSLI has received grant money from some generous organizations. We want to thank them for showing their support and acknowleding the importance of one-to-one mentoring. - WECare, Nassau County Bar Association ($1,000) - Ridgewood Savings Bank ($1,000) - Joseph Alexander Foundation ($2,500)
Fall Cleaning?
Schedule a Pickup Online
Let us help with your fall cleaning! Bag all your unwanted clothing and household items and schedule a pickup online at bbbsli.org, call 631-234-0000 or visit one of our conveniently located bins by using our bin finder online.
Visit: http://www.bbbsli.org/DONATION-CENTER/ for info!
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Do you know someone who would be a great Big Brother?
CEO Mark Cox
Children who meet regularly with their ‘Bigs’ are 46% less likely to start using illegal drugs and are 52% less likely to skip school!
Director of Programs
MENTORING WORKS!
Director of Finance
We need Big Brothers to START SOMETHING and become part of the BBBSLI family! If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering, call (516) 731-7880 x. 212! Start changing a life for the better.....Today!
Interested in Organizing a Clothing Drive? Visit www.BBBSLI.org/DonationsCenter
WFKS Surpasses $50,000
On Saturday, May 10th, more than 300 participants took part in the Walk for Kids’ Sake, raising more than $50,000 in support of mentoring. Board Members joined sponsor NBTY Helping Hands in kicking off the event at Eisenhower Park. Visit Facebook.com/bbbsli or bbbsli.org for more details and photos!
(Photo L-R) E. David Woycik, Jr. (Board Member), Joy Watson (Board Member), Regina Schilling (Board Member), Mark Cox (CEO), Stephen Cohen (Board Member), Michael Paley (Board Member), Tom Slome (Board Member)
“ I feel as if I have helped a child, who will help another, who will help another.” Big Sister, Judy
Staff Tracey Burnett Helen Liriano
Director of Marketing & PR Eloise Pisano
Director of Development Jamison Skala
Director of Human Resources Carmelina Vassallo
Asst. Director of Programs Josephine Todisco
Events Coordinator Deanna Tropeano
Case Managers Brian Cooper Sheniqua Lee Mara Schwartz Mary Vissichelli
Community Outreach Coordinator Rachelle Ayala
Board Chair John Talotta Stephen Cohen James Conboy Kathleen Courtney Daniel C. Gibbons, Esq. Steven Goodman Dan Greenburg Richard Grossi Scott Horowitz Michael Paley Regina Schilling Jeffrey Schwartzberg Mark S. Sidoti, Esq. Thomas Slome Kathleen Stanley Joy M. Watson, Esq. E. David Woycik, Jr., Esq.
Contact Us Nassau
516.731.7880
Suffolk
631.273.1469
Donation Center 631.234.0000
volunteers@bbbsli.org
Web
www.bbbsli.org Summer 2014 bbbsli.org p8