Jake’s 58 raises more than $11K for National Kidney Foundation
Courtesy of Jake’s 58 Casino Hotel
Phil Boyle, CEO and president of Jake’s 58 Casino Hotel, presented a check worth more than $11,000 to the National Kidney Foundation. Generated through Jake’s 58’s “Donate Your Change” program, the effort supports the organization’s mission to prevent kidney disease, improve the lives of patients through education and advocacy, and fund critical research to save lives.
Boyle was joined by National Kidney Foundation representatives, from left: Saskia Thomson, executive director, Greater New York; Meghan Burns, senior director, development and communications; and Tracey Beach, senior development manager, senior events.
Rallye Motors has provided People Loving People – a nonprofit that operates food pantries in Manhasset, Westbury and Oyster Bay – with $6,700 worth of food for its in-need visitors. The money was given to Long Island Cares to purchase the food for the pantries.
“We serve more than 550 families through our three pantries. We are deeply grateful to Rallye and Long Island Cares; your partnership makes this work not only possible, but sustainable. Because of your generosity, families are not just fed – they are seen, cared for, and loved. Thank you for standing with us and helping make a lasting difference in our community,” Adriana Kennedy, executive director of People Loving People, said in a written statement.
People’s Arc of Suffolk hosts NYS OPWDD commissioner
Courtesy of People’s Arc of Suffolk
People’s Arc of Suffolk welcomed Willow Baer, commissioner of the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), for a hands-on visit showcasing the organization’s mission in action and centered the voices of the people it supports.
The morning began with an interactive karate class, where Commissioner Baer and her staff joined participants from the People’s Arc of Suffolk Day Habilitation program on the mat, an experience that underscored inclusion, engagement and mutual respect.
A tour of the People’s Arc main building was led by self-advocates Caleb and Veronica, who shared their personal experiences on how People’s Arc programs support independence, confidence and community connection.
Joined by more than a dozen veterans, the LaSpina family, (pictured) proprietors of Maple Family Centers, presented a ceremonial check for more than $1 million to Bowlers to Veterans Link (BVL). Maple recently passed the $1 million mark in fundraising for BVL, a national charity that funds local therapeutic recreational programs for veterans.
Maple Family Centers also presented a $50,000 donation check to Honor Flight Long Island, which brings local veterans to Washington D.C. to view the monuments and to join a celebration in their honor.
The funding is to support Long Island Cares’ Nassau County food pantries, supplying toiletries and household supplies. It will also support the organization’s Veterans Project with food, toiletries and household supplies.
“Every year the Dejana Foundation steps up in the fight to end food insecurity here on Long Island,” Michael Haynes, vice president of government relations, advocacy and social policy at Long Island Cares, said.
This year the need for support is especially meaningful as experts say costs are rising, and people are struggling to make ends meet.
“We are so grateful for their most recent gift of $100,000, which equips Long Island Cares with the expanded capacity needed to keep pace with a Long Island still recovering from the increased hunger associated with the recent federal government shutdown,” Haynes said.
For the Peter & Jeri Dejana Foundation, the support is all about neighbor helping neighbors on Long Island.
“These grants embody the Peter & Jeri Dejana Foundation’s spirit of giving but also represent a call to action for both individuals and other philanthropic organizations to give what they can to address the very real problem of food insecurity in our local community. This is not a faraway need—it’s right in our own backyard,” Valerie Mallon, program director at the Peter & Jeri Dejana Foundation, said.
“Our community is strongest when we come together to feed, support, and uplift those who need it most,” Mallon added. “We have great confidence in these three organizations to use these funds to continue and expand their positive impact in our community.”
The donation “will make a big difference in helping us feed our neighbors facing food insecurity. We are grateful for the Foundation’s support because it will touch the lives of many Long Islanders. This is a great milestone in our work to ensure food access for Long Islanders in need,” John Probert, grants specialist of Long Island Cares, said.
More than 313,800 Long Islanders are food insecure, with an estimated 71,500 of them children, according to the most recent data from Long Island Cares.
Dec. 6 tree lighting kicks off weekly holiday markets through Christmas
Experts urge small businesses to prep inventory, run sales events, and boost customer service
As we approach the holiday season, small businesses are gearing up for what is often their busiest and most lucrative time of year.
ERIC ALEXANDER: ‘This year for Small Business Saturday, over 40 communities will pull together events, promotional campaigns and other public messages to remind Long Islanders to patronize local shops.’
Yet many local small businesses are still recovering from the economic damage of COVID-19 regulations, multi-year inflation and a customer base that has less money for spending, notes Eric Alexander, founder of Long Island Main Street Alliance, an organization advocating for downtown areas and small businesses.
“The good news is that over the last 20 years our downtowns have activated ‘Shop Local’ campaigns that drive foot traffic to our Main Street businesses,” Alexander said. “This year for Small Business Saturday, over 40 communities will pull together events, promotional campaigns and other public messages to remind Long Islanders to patronize local shops.”
The “Shop Local” movement continues to grow, demonstrating patrons’ loyalty to their community based businesses.
“These promotions, combined with downtown revitalization investment and housing development, have kept many of them in business through chaotic economic times,” Alexander said.
A prime example of downtown revitalization is Station Yards, a mixed-use, transit-oriented development that’s just steps away from the Ronkonkoma train station.
In the few years since Tritec Real Estate Company developed Station Yards, the bustling complex has attracted thousands of people, both residents and nonresidents alike.
Tracking data to the area reveals that in the first week of August 2024, 2,000 visitors came to 3 Hawkins Avenue, a residential building that also houses Toast Coffee + Kitchen, Vespa Italian Kitchen, Cornucopia Natural Foods and Artemis Speakeasy. In the last week of July 2025, that address brought in 15,000 people, many from the greater Ronkonkoma area and from neighboring Holbrook and Lake Grove, notes Chris Kelly, senior vice president of Tritec.
CHRIS KELLY: ‘In the last week of July 2025, [3 Hawkins Ave at Station Yards] brought in 15,000 people, many from the greater Ronkonkoma area and from neighboring Holbrook and Lake Grove.’
“It’s really transformed the area,” said Kelly of the 53-acre Station Yards development which, when completed, will include 1,450 residential units, 360,000 square feet of commercial/office space, 190,000 square feet of retail and 60,000 square feet of community space.
In addition to the aforementioned businesses, current tenants also include Great South Bay Brewery, FourLeaf Federal Credit Union, Redefine Meals, Tap Room, The Pink Fin, Catholic Health Urgent Care, Playa Bowls, and Lucharitos. Slated to open soon are Ben & Jerry’s, DIY crafting shop Hammer & Stain, and Hotworx, which is a 24-hour gym.
On Nov. 14, Station Yards will once again partner with the MacArthur Business Alliance, the Ronkonkoma Chamber of Commerce and Sachem High School for their second annual turkey drive. Last year, they donated 117 turkeys and about 2,000 pounds of non-perishables items to Long Island Cares.
“We hope to significantly beat that this year,” Kelly said.
On Dec. 6, Tritec will host its annual tree lighting and the first of its weekly holiday markets on the green at Station Yards, which will include vendors and a mix of live entertainment.
“We do the holiday market every Saturday from 12 Noon to 4 p.m. until Christmas,” said Kelly, noting that they averaged about 2,000 visitors at each of the holiday markets last year. “This year I think the market will be a little better because we’re going to enclose the tents.”
Small businesses looking to capitalize on the peak holiday shopping should check that they have enough inventory to support the surge and also create sales events to ensure they get a return on the investment of that inventory, notes Ree Wackett, advanced certified senior business advisor for the New York State Small Business Development Center at Stony Brook University, which helps provide assistance to small businesses and entrepreneurs.
REE WACKETT: ‘Oftentimes small businesses can’t beat the big-box stores on price, but they can beat them on customer service, and that’s how Main Street can beat Wall Street with their customer service and individualized attention.’
Many brick-and-mortar businesses will run special events, and online businesses will run specials during the official start of the holiday shopping season: The weekend following Thanksgiving—which includes Black Friday—Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday.
“But they want to make sure that they let their marketplace know they’re open during the holidays, and they’re going to be running specials, so that traffic gets driven to either their site or their shop,” Wackett said.
If businesses use social media, they should verify that their accounts are completely up to date with hours, sales and special events for the holidays, advises Wackett.
“Just basically making sure that their customers, their clients, their market is aware that they’re very much open and in business and they want the business,” Wackett said.
They should also make every effort to be responsive to their clients, whether that’s by phone or email.
“Customer service for small business is huge,” Wackett said.” Oftentimes small businesses can’t beat the big-box stores on price, but they can beat them on customer service, and that’s how Main Street can beat Wall Street with their customer service and individualized attention.”
She added that businesses should get contact information for their new customers, so that they send them email blasts and newsletters and turn them into repeat customers.
Long Island Cares – The Harry Chapin Regional Food Bank has named Katherine Fritz as its new president and CEO, effective immediately. Fritz succeeds Paule Pachter, who, after leading the Hauppauge-based organization for 17 years, announced plans to retire earlier this year, saying he would serve as president emeritus in an advisory role.
Having served Long Island Cares since 2019 as its vice president for development and communication, Fritz was the organization’s “unanimous choice to guide Long Island through the food-insecurity crisis,” according to a news release about Fritz’s appointment.
“After a nationwide search, the Board of Directors of Long Island Cares found its next leader down the hall from the boardroom,” David Herold, president of the Board of Directors at Long Island Cares, said in the news release.
The appointment comes at a time of rising costs and, as LIBN reported earlier this year, growing food insecurity on Long Island. And amid a federal government shutdown, food banks are bracing for new demand, according to published reports.
In Hauppauge, Fritz will lead Long Island Cares forward, bolstering its role as both a safety net and an agent of change, according to the organization. Committed to the mission of uniting resources to fight hunger, she will keep that focus central to all decisions, partnerships and programs. She will emphasize stability during the transition while driving the vision of a hunger-free Long Island, the organization said.
“She will lead us in meeting the ever-increasing need ahead, which is what the battle against the challenging climate surrounding food insecurity requires,” Herold said. “We believe that with her steady hand on the tiller, our mission will be advanced and the future of the people we serve will be brighter.”
Fritz aims to strengthen collaboration with Long Island Cares’ 300-plus community partners, including food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, senior citizens’ residences, schools and homeless shelters. She will expand programs targeting the root causes of hunger and boost advocacy for equity and dignity across Long Island, the organization said.
She also aims to prioritize trust-building across staff, board members and community partners while strengthening financial and operational resilience, according to the news release. She will lead the implementation of the organization’s 2025–2030 strategic plan to address current needs with the goal of advancing a more equitable future.
Fritz served in development and leadership positions in the nonprofit sector for more than 30 years, working in environmental and healthcare organizations, including in three divisions with the American Cancer Society. She spent more than 12 years as director of development for both the Guide Dog Foundation and America’s VetDogs, where she managed national fundraising strategies and annual budgets exceeding $18 million.
Fritz has been an adjunct faculty instructor at Molloy College, supporting the Nonprofit Management Certificate Program. She is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and as past president of its Long Island chapter.
Additionally, Fritz serves as president of the board of Brookhaven Art & Music, a youth orchestra, and has held numerous board, committee and advisory positions for environmental and arts nonprofits.
Fritz holds a B.S. from Long Island University at Southampton and is pursuing a master’s degree in human services leadership at St. Joseph’s University.
Founded in 1980 by singer-songwriter and activist Harry Chapin, Long Island Cares today distributes more than 16 million pounds of food and supplies annually to its partner agencies. With its main office and warehouse in Hauppauge, the organization operates seven food pantries throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties.
Adventureland’s Helping Hands Foundation raises $400K
Adventureland held its 8th annual Helping Hands Foundation Friends & Family VIP event at its Farmingdale amusement park. With nearly 2,000 people attending to support the charity effort, the event raised $400,000 to help Long Islanders. Collectively, the foundation has raised over 2.1 million dollars from all VIP Nights since the start of the foundation.
The highlight of the evening was The Vivian and Tony Gentile Scholarship Fund awarding of 13 scholarships of $5,000 each to high school seniors that will be attending college as full-time students on Long Island this fall.
Since its founding in 2013, Helping Hands has raised over $1 million for Long Island charities, nonprofit organizations and worthy programs.
Congressman Suozzi honors 12 local police officers for heroism
Congressman Tom Suozzi hosted his 5th annual “Hometown Heroes” event at the Glen Cove Police Department, where he honored and thanked 12 law enforcement officers from across New York’s 3rd Congressional District who displayed exemplary heroism in the line of duty in service to our communities. During the ceremony, Suozzi shared how the exceptional work of each officer saved the lives of New Yorkers.
The officers recognized by Suozzi were from the Nassau County Police Department, three precincts in the New York City Police Department (105th, 109th, and 111th), and the Glen Cove Police Department. Suozzi presented each officer with a flag that was flown over the U.S. Capitol, as well as a Congressional citation.
King Kullen supplier donates 1,800 pounds of food to LI Cares
King Kullen and UNFI–a natural, organic and specialty foods supplier–partnered together at the UNFI Grocery Merchandising Show to donate 1,862 pounds of food to Long Island Cares, Inc. – The Harry Chapin Food Bank.
King Kullen has a decades-long partnership with Long Island Cares. King Kullen and its sister company, Wild by Nature, weekly donate food from all their stores to help feed food-insecure Long Islanders. In addition, King Kullen’s Senior Vice President of Company Operations Tracey Cullen, sits on Long Island Cares’ board of directors.
“King Kullen is committed to supporting our neighbors in need. We are proud to partner with UNFI in donating products from their recent show,” Cullen shared. “King Kullen greatly values its partnership with Long Island Cares and through our weekly donations and committed support, we remain steadfast in our mission to help fight hunger across the communities we serve.”
Canon, Clean Earth Crew partner for Sunken Meadow Park cleanup
Canon U.S.A. continued its tradition of community service and environmental preservation during its annual Clean Earth Crew event at Sunken Meadow State Park. Canon employees and their family members signed up to volunteer their time collecting litter along trails and shoreline areas, removing debris and helping maintain one of Long Island’s most popular state parks.
Throughout the morning, volunteers spread out across the park, filling 12 bags of trash while cleaning the shoreline in addition to planting approximately 70 mums, painting four lifeguard stands and two barricades, cleaning and painting seven barbecues, and building seven new picnic tables. Their efforts helped improve the visual appeal of the park and contributed to a safer and healthier ecosystem for local wildlife and visitors alike.
