7th Annual Imagine Awards at Crest Hollow Country Club | Tue Apr 30
TV Host Cognac Wellerlane interviews Founder Ken Cerini of the Imagine Awards. Ken is the Managing Partner of Cerini & Associates, LLP and is the executive responsible for the administration of our not-for-profit and educational providers practice group. In addition to his extensive audit experience both at Ernst & Young, LLP, and Cerini & Associates, LLP, Ken has been directly involved in providing consulting services for nonprofits and educational facilities of all sizes throughout New York State.
Ken has won numerous awards, and has been quoted in publications such as Newsday, Long Island Business News, the Long Island Press, and the New York Times. Ken is the editor for three of the five newsletters published in-house by the firm, including: The Lesson Plan, written for school districts; The Special ED-ition, published for special education providers; and The NFP Advisor, written specifically for the nonprofit sector. He teaches a graduate level nonprofit accounting course at LIU—CW Post.
TV Host Cognac Wellerlane interviews Platinum Sponsors
David Goldstein from Certilman Balin, Ed Probst Founder of Vanguard Insurance Agency and Tom Buomiauto of Empire National Bank
TV Host Cognac Wellerlane poses osing for photo-ops with Emcee Doug Geed, Anchor News 12 Long Island, Comedian Paul Anthony from Bay Street Theater Recipient of The Claire Friedlander Family Foundation Arts and Culture Award, Steven Calapai from the Magro Foundation
2019ImagineAwardWinners(L-R) MasterofCeremonies,DougGeed,News12LongIsland,Certilman
BalinLeadershipExcellenceAwardwinner,Dr.EllenmorrisTiegerman,Tiegerman, ImagineAwards
founder KennethCerini,ManagingPartnerofCerini&Associates,LLP,VanguardInsuranceAgencyRising
StarAward&NerdsThatCareFanFavoriteAwardwinner,KeithCaputo,HelpingMakesUHappy and
EmpireNationalBankInnovationAwardwinnerDoriScofield,PawsofWar.NotpicturedCerini&
AssociatesSocialImpactwinnerIslandHarvestandTheClaireFriedlanderFamilyFoundationArts&
CulturewinnerBayStreetTheater
TV Host Cognac Wellerlane poses for a photo-op with Tommy DiMisa from Vanguard Insurance Company at the 7th Annual Imagine Awards at the
Crest Hollow Country Club
The 7th Annual Long Island Imagine Awards was held Tuesday, April 30, 2019, 6-9:30pm at the Crest Hollow Country Club, Woodbury, NY. Over 450 of the region’s top nonprofit executives, volunteers and corporate sponsors attended this gala event which was created to offer formal acknowledgement to some of Long Island’s most effective and innovative nonprofit organizations.
The amazing Doug Geed was the Emcee for the 7th Annual Long Island Imagine Awards!
Over 170 nonprofit applications were submitted to win $5,000 grants in each of five categories:
Innovation,LeadershipExcellence,RisingStar,SocialImpact andArtsandCulture.Ofthispoolofworthy
applicants,20wereselectedasfinalistsandoneineachcategoryaswellasaFanFavoritewas awarded
thegrant LIVE attheawardsceremony. Thewinnersare:
Cerini&AssociatesSocialImpact Award
• IslandHarvestFoodBank
TheClaireFriedlanderFamilyFoundationArts & Culture Award
• BayStreetTheater
CertilmanBalinLeadershipExcellenceAward
• Dr.EllenmorrisTiegerman,ExecutiveDirector&CEO,Tiegerman
EmpireNationalBankInnovation Award
• PawsofWar
VanguardInsuranceAgency RisingStarAward
• HelpingMakesUHappy,Inc.
NerdsThatCareFanFavoriteAward
• HelpingMakesUHappy,Inc.
In its seventh year, the Imagine Awards are the premiere awards program on Long Island for the
nonprofit sector. “Tonight, was all about the nonprofit sector, honoring those that truly make a
difference on Long Island,” said Kenneth Cerini, Managing Partner of Cerini & Associates, LLP, the
Awards’founders.“Thisyear’sfinalistsandwinnerswereallamazing…theytrulyexemplifysomeofthe
bestthenonprofitsectorhastooffer.”
The Long Island Imagine Awards recognizes the following major sponsors: Cerini & Associates, LLP,
Certilman Balin,The Claire Friedlander Family Foundation, EmpireNational Bank, VanguardInsurance
Agency, Digital Waterworx, Long Island Business News and MAGII Pension Services. For more
information visitwww.imagineawardsli.com
AboutTheLongIsland ImagineAwards:
TheLongIslandImagineAwards,hailedasthe“AcademyAwardsforNonprofits”istheleadingawards
programrecognizinginnovationandleadershipinthenonprofitsectoronLongIsland.Thisgrant
competitionwasestablishedin2012byKenCerini,CPA,ManagingPartnerofCeriniandAssociates,LLP.
TheLongIslandImagineAwardsreceiveshundredsofapplicationseachyearfromLongIsland-based
nonprofitswhowanttospotlighttheirinnovationinprogramming,socialimpactandoverallexcellence.
WinnersareannouncedLIVEattheeventaftertheirvideoispremieredinfrontofanaudiencefilled
withover400supportersofthesector.Eachfinalistreceivesacomplimentaryvideo,andthewinners
receivea$5,000granttofurtherfundtheirmissions.Nearly$200,000 hasbeendistributedsince
inception.
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Ms. New York Senior America Honors Former Marine Lisa DeStefano For H.A.V.E. Heart ( Honor A Veteran Everyday) Event
TV Host Entertainment Journalist Cognac Wellerlane poses for a photo-op with Ms. New York Senior America 2014 Jane Rubenstein at H.A.V.E. HEART Campaign ( Honor A Veteran Everyday)
TV Host Cognac Wellerlane poses for a photo-op with Honoree Lisa DeStefano, her daughter Giovanna and Ms. Senior New York 2014 Jane Rubenstein at Ms. New York Senior America's H.A.V.E. HEART Campaign ( Honor A Veteran Everyday) Event
Ms. New York Senior America's H.A.V.E. HEART Campaign ( Honor A Veteran Everyday) took place at the home of Lisa DeStefano. The organizationed honored Lisa a US Marine Corps Veteran, and her daughter Giovanna with special gifts that were designed around their Holiday wishes.
Special thanks and gratiude went out to Cameo Sisters that were present - and their reigning Queen Maureen and her King Curtis, 2015 Queen C.J., our directors Marleen and Bob, our pageant director Pat, Jeanne, Betty, Claire, Enid, Iris, Alicia, Marie, and of course Jane 2014 and her King Jack. Ms. New York Senior America Honor, Appreciate, Respect, and Give Thanks for the Service of every member of the United States Military past and present!
Happy Holidays to all!
We salute and honor Senior Women! Women who have reached the age of 60, with their knowledge and life experience, are the foundation of Ms. Senior America.
For more information please visit newyorksenioramerica.org
The United States Marine Corps, also referred to as the United States Marines, is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations with the United States Navy as well as the Army and Air Force. For more information please visit https://www.marines.com
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FRIENDS OF OHEKA GARDEN PARTY 2018 A GREAT GATSBY-STYLE AFFAIR
TV Host Cognac Wellerlane interviews Vice-President Greg Genovese at Friends of OHEKA "An All Volunteer non-profit organization dedicated the protection, preservation and public awareness of OHEKA Castle"
TV Host Cognac Wellerlane interviews Honoree Dr. Gerard Brogan Winner of the 2018 Humanitarian Award at Friends of OHEKA at OHEKA Castle
TV Host Cognac Wellerlane poses for a photo-op at Friends of OHEKA Garden Party at OHEKA Castle
Guests, supporters and press gathered at Friends of Oheka's Garden Party 2018 A Great Gastsby-Style Affair.
The event featured honoring 2018 Humanitarian Dr. Gerard X. Brogan, Jr. CEO/Executive Director Huntington Hospital and the 2018 Otto Kahn Award Winners with a
special tribute to Gary Melius owner of Oheka Castle.
Beginning in 2003, Friends of Oheka's Otto Kahn Awards Program, in partnership with Gary Melius, has selected graduating high school seniors from throughout Huntington who are exceptionally talented in some form of the arts to receive their OKA Scholarships. This year the total OKA scholarships were awarded to over $150,000. Thanks to their tremendously-successful Garden Party last year, the organization was able to bestow seven $3,000 awards. All the awarded funds were raised at their annual Garden Party.
The organization revealed a "Special Thank You" to all 2018 Otto Kahn Award Committee: Gayle Snyder and Greg Genovese, Co-chairs, Carol Finnegan, Kevin Lyons, Sheila Pariser, Frances Sadis, Susan Saltz, Kerry Strobl and Alissa Taff, committee members.
Seven talented high school seniors from the Town of Huntington were award with this year's Otto Kahn Awards.
Congratulation to all winners listed below:
Michael Bradford— Huntington High School
Shannon Culhane— Northport High School
Kenneth Fajardo— Huntington High School
Sarah Glassner— Northport High School
Marley Jacobson— Half Hollow Hills East High School
Delaney Mena— Walt Whitman High School
Sean Wilkinson— John Glenn High School
These winners were awarded a $3,000 scholarship at the Garden Party, which took place from 5 to 8 p.m.
This year's humanitarian award was presented to Dr. Gerard X. Brogan, CEO/Executive Director of Huntington Hospital.
As Huntington Hospital’s physician leader, Gerard Brogan, Jr., is focused on delivering the highest quality, patient-centered care to the community. He previously served as medical director of Long Island Jewish Forest Hills, where he concentrated on improving clinical quality, hospital operational efficiency and financial performance, and worked with hospital staff and more than 500 full-time and community-based physicians.
Dr. Brogan joined Northwell in 1998 as director of emergency services at Plainview Hospital and subsequently served as vice president of emergency services for LIJ Forest Hills, Long Island Jewish Valley Stream, Plainview, Syosset and Southside Hospitals.
He is also professor of emergency medicine at Zucker School of Medicine, has published extensively in the area of acute cardiac emergencies and serves as the medical director of revenue operations for Northwell Health.
Dr. Brogan received his medical degree from the University at Buffalo, and completed his residency, serving as chief resident, in emergency medicine at LIJ Medical Center.
The Otto Kahn scholarship was open to students attending college in the fall who are majoring in the performing arts, visual arts or music.
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Maria and Kenneth Fishel welcomed guests to their Bridgehampton, NY estate two weekends in succession for an exclusive Pre-Polo Cocktail Party. Guests mingled at the Fishel’s soiree prior to watching the first of two annual Hamptons Polo matches. In a tribute to the classic values of the sport attendees were encouraged to wear stylish hats.
Notable attendees included: Maria Fishel, Kenneth Fishel, Peter Thomas Roth, Jean Shafiroff, Ruth Miller, Randi Schatz, Ann Van Ness, Cheri Kaufman, Jacqueline Murphy, Suzan Kremer, Lucia Hwong Gordon, Vivian Louthan, Eugenia Valliades.
After the Fishel’s soiree, guests made their way to the Polo Hamptons field for the afternoon match.
Notable attendees at the Polo Match included: Christie Brinkley, Maria Fishel, Kenneth Fishel, Candice Bushnell, Jean Shafiroff, Ian Duke, Christine Montanti. Cagri Kanver, Frank Cilione. Event Security was provided by Wilson Associates.
Supporters and guests spent an unforgettable afternoon enjoying polo in the Hamptons! Publisher of Social Life Magazine and Philanthroposts Kenneth & Maria Fishel Invited all to attend on their magnificent property in Bridgehampton, NY to attend the Luxury Event of the Hamptons Season, Polo Hamptons! The event was produced in Bridgehampton on July 23 and July 30, 2022, from 4pm to 730pm. As guests enjoyed the thrill of the polo match and VIP cocktail party, they had access to an open bar paired with hors d'oeuvres by Elegant Affairs and preferred seating.
While the sport of polo is older than recorded history, we know that its origins are in the inspirational relationship between humans and horses. This special bond and the unique blending of athletic talents between horse and rider have helped polo evolve into The Sport of Kings.
Mounted nomads in Central Asia played a version of polo that was part sport and part training for war, with as many as 100 men on a side. The game followed the nomads’ migration to Persia (modern Iran) some time between 600 B.C. and 100 A.D.
In Persia, polo became a national sport, played by the nobility and military men. The game was formalized and spread west to Constantinople, east to Tibet, China and Japan, and south to India.
Modern polo originated in Manipur, a northeastern state of India. The Silchar Polo Club was founded in 1859 by British military officers and tea planters, after Lieutenant Joe Sherer saw the locals playing polo and said, “We must learn the game!” From India, polo spread as fast as its enthusiasts could travel, appearing in Malta in 1868, England in 1869, Ireland in 1870, Argentina in 1872 and Australia in 1874.
On a trip to England, James Gordon Bennett, publisher of the New York Herald, saw his first polo game. Early in 1876, he returned to New York with mallets, balls and a copy of the Hurlingham rules. The first game was played at a city riding academy; in the spring they moved outdoors to a field in Westchester County. That summer, the New York players took polo to Newport, R.I. Soon the galloping game was being played across North America.
About Maria and Kenneth Fishel:
Maria and her husband and company CEO, Kenneth Fishel, run Renaissance Properties, a family-run New York based real estate organization. The luxury real estate agency has distinguished itself as one of New York’s premier family-owned real estate firms for over a half a century. With over one million square feet of prime commercial and luxury residential space in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Southern Florida, where it owns the state-of-the-art Class A Aventura Corporate Center, Renaissance prides itself on bringing the highest level of comfort and modern technology within the most elegant build-outs; which provide the best living spaces and the fastest services to all of its tenants.
Aside from providing people the best locations to work and live, Maria is a prominent socialite, arts patron and philanthropist who works to positively impact the lives of others. Maria and Kenneth are dedicated to charitable giving through numerous arts, animal rights, health-related, and civic improvement causes. Since 2009, the Fishels have been strong supporters of the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation (SWCRF), where they have been instrumental in raising funds to help minimize and eradicate the scourges of cancer.
A longtime staple of the Hamptons, the Fishel’s have also hosted three of the tennis matches for the Charles Evans ProAM Tournament as part of the Annual Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) benefit at their 16-acre estate in Bridgehampton, New York. Among some of the other charities they have been involved in are Chabad Center for Jewish Life, Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, The PAW Project, NoHo Business Improvement District and the Lincoln Center Corporate Fund. Kenneth serves on the boards of SWCRF, Community Housing Improvement Corporation and Noho New York Business Improvement District.
When Maria is not indulging her passion for the arts by attending lectures in art history, music and literature at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, she is a committee member, major fundraiser and chair of events for the SWCRF, and their annual Hamptons Happening.
For more information, visit: http://www.renaissancepropertiesny.com/
PRESS CONTACT:
Norah Lawlor | Lawlor Media Group | www.lawlormediagroup.com
Norah@lawlormediagroup.com | Tel: (212) 967-6900
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