Long Island Non-profit Briefs: January 17, 2003

Long Island Business News, Jan 17, 2003 by Lisa Josefak

The council to South Nassau Communities Hospital donated $250,000 to South Nassau Hospital for the renovation and expansion projects involving its pediatric unit, cancer center, breast/GYN health center, emergency services department and SIBSPlace programs.

The donation, which was raised through numerous events, including the "5K Walk/Run and Fun Run" and the annual "Goods and Services Auction/Car Raffle," is going toward the hospital's capital campaign to raise $1 million.

Tree of Hope raises $15,740

Mather Hospital's annual "Tree of Hope" raised $15,740 for underserved and uninsured women receiving breast cancer treatment at the Fortunato Breast Health Center at Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson.

The "Tree of Hope," which was on display at the Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove during the holiday season, was sponsored by Mather Hospital, Fleet Bank and Simon Property Group. The money was raised through the purchase of $5, $10 and $20 ornaments. In return, ornament buyers received a breast cancer awareness pin.

Hofstra prof receives research grant

Donald Lubowich, adjunct professor of astronomy and physics at Hofstra University, received a $10,850 research grant from the National Radio Astronomy Observatory.

The funds will go toward the observation of an interstellar molecular cloud of 9 billion-year-old ammonia gases.

The Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia will be used for the project. This telescope is the world's largest, fully steerable radio telescope and is used to study pulsars, galaxies, planets and other astronomical objects.

Lubowich is a senior scientist at the American Institute of Physics and has published articles in Nature magazine and scientific journals.

Pro-bono ad for Have a Heart

Multi-Media Group, a marketing firm in Huntington Station, produced a 30-second pro-bono television commercial for Have a Heart Children's Cancer Society in Levittown.

The commercial features a 6-year-old girl who was diagnosed with cancer in March 2001. Have a Heart was able to remove the financial burden from her family by covering the girl's medical costs.

Two events benefit JCC's kids

Sid Jacobson JCC's Special Services Center in East Hills is hosting a Children and Teens Dance-A-Thon fundraiser on Feb. 1 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Proceeds will benefit JCC's Special Services Center and Camp Kehilla, a summer day camp for high-functioning children and teens with minimal learning disabilities, speech and language delays and emotionally handicapping conditions.

Families and individuals are invited to attend.

For more information, call (516) 484-1545, Ext. 175.

Additionally, Sid Jacobson JCC is holding its eighth annual Auction For Excellence Feb. 8, from 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

The night will feature a Hawaiian theme and include cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, a buffet dinner, dessert and a raffle.

Reservations, which must be made in advance, are $75 per person.

For more information, call (516) 484-1545, Ext. 136.

MADD volunteer opportunities

MADD Long Island Chapter is seeking volunteers who help man public awareness tables, assist at the office and special chapter events.

There are no time commitments. Everyone is welcome.

For more information, call (631) 547-6233.

Carol Burnett, ALA partner to promote program

Comedian Carol Burnett and the American Lung Association are launching a campaign to help people around the world quit smoking for free through the organization's Freedom From Smoking Online Program.

Burnett is helping to promote the program by starring in a series of public service announcements.

Burnett, who has been smoke-free for over 20 years, lost her daughter, Carrie, a longtime smoker, to lung cancer in January 2002.

The program is a seven-part course that helps smokers understand why they smoke, the benefits of quitting and tips for staying smoke- free. It also connects people who are quitting smoking with other people across the country who are also quitting.

Additionally, the ALA of Nassau-Suffolk is preparing its Casino Night, set for April 30 at the Garden City Hotel in Garden City.

For more information, call 1-800-LUNGUSA.

Nassau Girl Scouts receives grant

The Girl Scouts of Nassau County received a $5,000 state grant secured by state Sen. Dean Skelos.

The grant will be used for outreach efforts to enable "every girl everywhere" the opportunity to become a Girl Scout. It will also help the council provide innovative ways to meeting the needs of the Girl Scouts of Nassau County's growing membership.

For more information, call (516) 741-2550.

Port Jeff Lions roars with HUGS

The Port Jeff Lions Club raised enough funds last December to purchase 60 new stuffed Gund brand dogs through Avon's Love-A-Lion program. The stuffed animals will be donated to Mather Hospital's HUGS program.

HUGS is an ongoing program at Mather Hospital where volunteers distribute stuffed animals to comfort elderly and pediatric patients awaiting treatment at the hospital's emergency room and its ambulatory and inpatient surgical pavilion.

Community residents are invited to donate new teddy bears and other stuffed animals between 12 to 16 inches to Mather Hospital for the HUGS Program.