HUNTINGTON, NY - January 6, 2012 - Nearly 400 Long Islanders recently turned out at the Carlyle on the Green in Farmingdale to celebrate Family Service League's 85th anniversary. The black-tie event attracted business leaders and other supporters, raising over $430,000 to help FSL continue its mission of Restoring Hope and Rebuilding Lives through a range of social services and enrichment programs to help families and individuals.
There were a number of firsts during the evening, including bestowing inaugural awards bearing the names of individuals and organizations for their generosity and leadership in helping Family Service League evolve into the effective and vital organization it has become since its founding in 1926.
The Lockwood Children's Champion Award was given to Long Island natives Susan and Christopher Lockwood for their involvement and support of FSL that spans two decades. Susan Lockwood started volunteering with FSL in 1992 and later joined the Board of Directors, serving as its Chair for two years. The Lockwood's also established an endowment to support the Lockwood Pre-School Learning Center, a program for 3-year olds residing in the Town of Huntington, whose yearly family income is $40,000 or less.
Judy and Thomas Iovino received the first Iovino Family Community Impact Award for their dedication to improving the lives of Long Islanders. The Iovino's have been active with FSL since 1993, and Tom is a former board president. The Iovino South Shore Family Center in Bay Shore provides services which promote and maintain positive family functioning to Suffolk County residents.
Dedicated to funding organizations that achieve measurable results, the Fay J. Lindner Foundation supports programs focusing on people with mental illness. FSL is one of the largest providers of mental health counseling services on Long Island. In recognition of their longtime support of FSL the inaugural Fay J. Lindner Humanitarian Award was given to Robert M. Goldberg, the foundation's president, and to Norman A. Schefer, treasurer and member of its board of directors.
Recognizing that Long Island's only daily newspaper goes well beyond just delivering news and information, FSL named Newsday as the recipient of its 2011 Leadership Award for its philanthropic efforts and being part of the greater Long Island community for over 70 years. Newsday's commitment to helping those in need goes back to its Adopt-A-Family program that was begun in the 1950s. Since 2000, Newsday Charities has granted over $9.3 million to deserving Long Island agencies, including FSL.
About Family Service League:
Family Service League (FSL), founded in 1926, is a not-for-profit, community based human service agency assisting more than 47,000 people each year. FSL serves individuals from infancy through the senior years and families, and offers 43 programs in 15 locations. Family Service League has five Family Centers - located in Huntington, Huntington Station, Bay Shore, East Yaphank, and Riverhead -where families can come and receive assistance to address a broad range of needs. Other program sites are located throughout Long Island from Huntington to Greenport to East Hampton. FSL is credentialed by the Council on Accreditation for Children and Family Services (COA) for meeting the highest standards of best practices and quality services for individuals and families. For more information, call 631.427.3700 or visit the Family Service League web site at www.fsl-li.org.