On Saturday, Sept. 26, the Port Washington Public Library (PWPL) will hold “A Novel Affair,” the Library Foundation’s Twelfth Inspiration Gala. The event will honor dedicated community volunteers, Judy and Ted Goldsmith and Jane and Marty Schwartz. The evening will be catered by H on the Harbor.
Community Leadership Award winners Ted and Judy Goldsmith have long volunteered for the Library’s ESOL program, teaching writing and literacy. In 2005, Ted joined the ESOL program as a writing teacher and now teaches three writing classes, as well as training at least one future teacher each year. In 2008, he founded a similar program at the Flushing Public Library, and in 2013 he received the “Tutor of the Year” award for the borough of Queens. Judy is a born nurturer. When her kids were in Weber, she volunteered at the Henry Viscardi School, working with severely disabled children. After a 25-year second career as a floral designer with her own business, Judith E. Goldsmith Floral Designs, she closed her shop in 2008 and joined her husband in the ESOL program, using her skills to co-teach a class of beginners, which she continues to do today.
The Elaine and Leonard Wurzel Community Service Award winners Jane and Marty Schwartz moved to Port Washington from Atlanta 45 years ago. Marty served as the first executive director of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, which focuses on at-risk youth. After retiring from the Casey Foundation, he served as a board member of the Community Synagogue, was a founding member of Sustainable Long Island, is an emeritus member of the board of advisors of the Long Island Community Foundation and was vice president of the Hempstead Boys and Girls Club. He is on the board of ERASE Racism, a Long Island nonprofit that works toward racial equality. His wife’s devotion to improving the quality of life for others is matched only by the energy and kindness that she brings to every undertaking. She has been a teacher, a director of development for AIDS-Films, a volunteer fundraiser for ERASE Racism, and a past president of North Shore Child and Family Guidance Association. She is on the board of the INN (Interfaith Nutrition Network) and there is a homeless shelter named “Jane’s Inn” to honor her work. She is also on the boards of Planned Parenthood and Rotacare.
The Port Washington Library Foundation funds programs and projects not covered by the PWPL budget. It has donated over $1.6 million to the PWPL. For more information, call 516-883-4400, ext. 180. To pay tribute to an honoree visit the e-journal at www.pwlfanovelaffair.com.
