Family & Children’s Association (FCA), Long Island’s leading human service agency, hosted more than 200 guests and raised over $225,000 at their annual ThanksGiving Holiday Ball held on Nov. 19 at the Garden City Hotel. This year, FCA was proud to honor three of Long Island’s most distinguished women including Dr. Christine Riordan, president of Adelphi University; Dale Cole, Community Relations manager at Newsday; and Diana Holden, executive director of Adventures in Learning. Attendees kicked off the holiday season by coming together to enjoy dining, dancing, fashion show and dance performances by Dance Stylez Entertainment. The event raised much-needed funds to help FCA touch the lives of 20,000 of Long Island’s most vulnerable children, seniors, veterans and families.
According to FCA President/CEO Jeffrey L. Reynolds, “Our ThanksGiving Ball is a very special event because we take time to celebrate together. We applaud the success of our clients and show gratitude to those who’ve contributed to that success through philanthropy, volunteerism or mentoring. We’re especially grateful to our honorees and sponsors including Long Island Frozen Storage, Network Outsource, Farrell Fritz, PSEG LI, Adelphi University and several leading Long Island families who enabled us to reach our fundraising goal.”
More about this year’s honorees:
Dr. Christine Riordan is the president of Adelphi University and the first woman to hold this prestigious position. Dr. Riordan will bring her unique perspective to the partnership that FCA and Adelphi University have enjoyed for many years in the service of our clients and the development of students in the University’s School of Social Work. In addition to providing funding to FCA’s annual Scholarship Fund for at-risk youth, Adelphi contributes skilled interns and training programs for FCA staff as well as nonprofit leadership forums for the greater Long Island Community.
Dale Cole is the Community Affairs Project manager at Newsday. Cole has supported Family & Children’s Association’s (FCA) through the generosity of the Newsday Charities/McCormick Tribune Foundation for a number of years focusing on Long Island’s neediest children. Most recently, their generosity has focused on FCA’s Step Up to Success Initiative, a structured plan for helping “at-risk youth” become “can-do adults.”
Diana Holden is the executive director of Adventures in Learning and the recipient of the first annual Carol Wessel Award, given in recognition of long-time FCA Trustee, supporter and friend Carol Wessel who passed away in 2014. Holden has been selected for this prestigious honor in recognition of a lifetime devoted to the education and well-being of Long Island’s most vulnerable children. She not only fosters the well-being of the underserved children in the Manhasset/Great Neck area but also advocates on behalf of the families living in these communities who otherwise would not have a voice.
In addition, Dr. Avi Felix, CEO of Long Island Frozen Storage, received the James J. Harnett Humanitarian Award, given in memory of FCA’s former CEO to a member of the Long Island community who contributes to the well-being of our neighbors in need.
Family & Children’s Association is a nonprofit 501 organization that protects and strengthens Long Island’s most vulnerable children, seniors, families and communities. More information is available via www.familyandchildrens.org
