We are delighted to announce that Julie Alberti has joined CMM Cares as Executive Director. With deep roots in the Long Island community and a heartfelt commitment to helping others, Julie brings unparalleled expertise and passion to the organization.
Julie currently serves as the Director of Family Services and Business Development at Strata Alliance, a multi-family office based in Ronkonkoma. Since joining, she has leveraged her extensive expertise in personal finance to help grow the firm and its network of services. Known for her compassion and exceptional ability to connect with people, Julie excels in guiding clients through pivotal financial decisions, particularly in retirement planning. Her greatest fulfillment comes from seeing her clients realize their dreams, and she remains steadfastly dedicated to giving back to the community.
Julie’s career is marked by an impressive progression of leadership roles. Prior to Strata Alliance, she served as an advisor at TD Ameritrade/Charles Schwab, helping clients navigate their retirement journeys. As co-founder and Head of Investor Relations and Marketing at The Alberleen Group, Julie spearheaded strategic marketing initiatives and cultivated lasting relationships with investors. She began her career at Lehman Brothers in the Global Absolute Returns division, where she developed the financial expertise that has defined her career.
CMM Cares was founded on the principle that uniting the Long Island business community can create meaningful change in the lives of local families. As Executive Director, Julie is committed to driving that mission forward with energy and vision.
“I’m honored to take on this role,” Julie shared. “The Long Island business community is incredibly strong, and I truly believe that by working together, we can make a profound difference for families in need.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Julie as the new Executive Director,” said Joe Campolo. “Her vision and dedication are perfectly aligned with the mission of CMM Cares. I am confident that her guidance will bring fresh energy and impactful growth to the organization.”
This summer at CMM Cares, our commitment to empowering Long Island families in times of crisis remained at the heart of everything we did. Through compassion, action, and the unwavering support of our community, we were able to provide relief to families facing unimaginable challenges.
When a local family lost their beloved son after a decades-long battle with a debilitating disease, we stepped in to alleviate some of the financial burden, helping cover funeral costs. In another instance, a young military veteran lost everything in a devastating apartment fire. Thanks to the support of our donors, we were able to help him rebuild his life, providing immediate assistance to get him back on his feet.
As summer ended and the school year approached, we were honored to support a set of school-aged twins who had recently lost their father. With our help, they were able to start the academic year with the essential supplies they needed to succeed, ensuring that they could focus on their education during this difficult time.
Our commitment doesn’t end with a single act of kindness. For families we’ve helped in the past, we continue to provide support when new challenges arise. This summer, we assisted a family facing unexpected medical expenses by covering the cost of essential medical equipment not covered by insurance, offering them much-needed relief.
None of this would be possible without the generosity of our donors. Their contributions enable us to make a meaningful difference in the lives of Long Island families in need. To all who have given to CMM Cares, we extend our deepest gratitude—you are the reason we can continue this vital work.
Together, we’re empowering our community, one family at a time.
CMM Cares Founder and Chairman of the Board, Joe Campolo, recently joined Jay Oliver on LI News Radio to discuss the impactful work of CMM Cares. During the conversation, Campolo highlighted Cares’ dedication to positively influencing the communities across Long Island where we live and work. Campolo emphasized the critical role that local businesses play in supporting our neighbors facing hardships. Tune in to the full discussion here.
On June 3rd, 2024, CMM Cares hosted our annual Charity Golf Outing at St. George’s Golf & Country Club in East Setauket. Sponsors and guests of the business community joined together to start the day with lunch and a cigar before heading to the course. Later, guests enjoyed cocktails, sushi and delicious hors d’oeuvres outdoors while the venue buzzed with music by Rubber Soul. We ended the night with a ceremony to honor our friend Glen Mankhen, commemorate our 2024 honoree George Condos, and meet Henry Lozano, a member of a 2023 Cares’ family.
Please save the date for our next event, our Fall fundraiser that will be held on November 6, 2024, at Land’s End in Sayville.
Thank you to all of our incredibly generous sponsors, guests, and donors. Your contribution will go towards changing the lives of our neighbors.
CMM Cares would like to introduce our second 2023 CMM Cares Family. Meet Henry, a resilient and inspiring individual who has triumphed over the challenges posed by cerebral palsy. Despite being wheelchair-bound and having a speech impediment, Henry radiates strength, determination, and an unwavering spirit.
Henry Lozano was nominated by Lisa Gatti, CEO of Pal-O-Mine Equestrian. The family description, in her words “Henry Lozano wheeled through the Pal-O-Mine farm gates with his mother, father and sister by his side 8 years ago. Despite being confined to a wheelchair and speaking with a severe speech impairment, Henry stated that he wanted to ride a horse against his mother’s wishes. I knew at that moment he would be my student. I loved his confidence, his humor, his perseverance, and his willingness to try anything he could get his hands on. Henry began weekly riding lessons, started competing in horseshows, mentored other young adults at Pal-O-Mine, and began working in our vocational program. Two years ago, Henry lost his father, his best friend. His mom is the sole provider currently and given her age, is unable to lift Henry out of his chair to get into bed or go to the bathroom.”
Despite the physical and communication challenges he faces, Henry is not defined by his condition. His tenacity and positive attitude shine through in every aspect of his life. Henry’s story serves as an inspiration to others, proving that with determination and a supportive community, one can overcome even the most formidable challenges. CMM Cares is proud to be a part of that support system, to help remedy the current obstacle in Henry’s path.
Henry desperately needed an accessible bathroom. With a properly thought-out design, a handicap accessible bathroom would enhance the safety, dignity, and independence in Henry’s daily life. This home upgrade provides a more inclusive and accommodating environment for Henry, his family, and his caregivers in his home. With the help of CMM Cares’ most generous contractor, George Condos, of Condos Brothers Construction, this crucial home renovation project has come to life. This is not a simple home DIY home project, the scope of work involved in making sure this space wheelchair accessible was intensive. The project involved full demolition of the existing bathroom and adjacent closet, reframe for a widened door opening, relocating water lines, installing a new shower, electrically updates, new drywall, tilework, installation of new vanity, sink, faucet, toilet, and painting.
“I’ve always dreamt about a bathroom that would help me, my family and staff during my morning and night routine. It has been life changing for me as it feels so good to have a bathroom made just for me. The bathroom looks amazing. George and his company were kind and super supportive to listening to my needs. I feel like everything I wanted was accomplished. Thank you for making my dream come true. It is the very best gift I have ever received.”
Safety was a top priority in this project to reduce the risk of slips, trips or falls. This new, custom space now not only addresses the immediate needs of his safety, but it improves the quality of life for both him and his support network. The modifications reduce the physical strain on family members and caregivers when assisting him. CMM Cares’ goal is to provide long-term benefits to those in need. The renovations completed in Henry’s home provide long-term benefits extend to the entire family, and caregivers, providing an increased quality of life for years to come. As Henry’s needs may change over time, having an accessible bathroom ensures his ongoing comfort and safety.
In addition to the new walk-in shower, CMM Cares has covered the cost of a shower wheelchair which provides a safe and accessible bathing solution, ensuring a comfortable and secure bathing experience for both the user and caregiver. In many instances, the cost for shower wheelchairs isn’t covered by insurance because they are not deemed medically necessary. We worked with Henry and his family to choose a specific model that will make the showering process and transfer easier on Henry and his family.
“As Henry’s mom, I still can’t believe that you and CMM Cares along with Lisa Gatti, chose Henry to receive this bathroom remodel. Henry is so happy and feels special to have this bathroom make his daily routine go smoothly and most importantly safely. It was truly a pleasure having George and his company here. Thank you so very much. You have no idea what this means to Henry and our family. We feel truly blessed. Thank you again!”
And finally, we completed this Support Plan with the generous donation of a full housecleaning service who volunteered to the task of cleaning up this post-construction project. The team at Thunderbird Maintenance Corp. volunteered their time and expertise to restore order and comfort to their living space.
We thank Lisa Gatti for recognizing the challenges of this family and submitting this nomination for our CMM Cares support. We are proud to have helped overcome one of the biggest challenges this family was facing. Henry is an incredible person and deserves this support as he is always giving back to his community despite his own challenges.
The generous support of our sponsors truly made the evening a resounding success. It was incredible to see everyone in attendance embrace the spirit of the evening, adorned in exquisite masks and attire, adding to the magic of the night. The contributions to the event will make a positive difference in the lives of those in need.
We’d like to share with you a special video message from one of our Cares Families. This family is rebuilding their lives here on Long Island after having fled their home in war-torn Kyiv, Ukraine. With CMM Cares support, we’ve made that transition a little easier. You can read the full family’s story here.
Our first 2023 CMM Cares family is a family who are natives of Haiti and residents of Westbury, NY for many years. The matriarch of the family is Maude, is a mother of 3, who lost her middle son in 2018 at the age of 6 to health conditions. Months after losing her son, her husband suffered a stroke and was put in a nursing home for a few months. He’s since regained some of his health and recently suffered a second stroke, returned to Haiti and his extended family and is now living in Florida, leaving the challenges of raising their children to her alone. Maude works around the clock to care for her family taking on multiple shifts and jobs as a home health aide. She also manages the services for her youngest daughter’s learning, speech and auditory disabilities and supports her oldest daughter as she continues overcome post COVID anxiety returning to middle school. Her daughter has become such an incredible help with caring for things at home, and Maude is lucky that her mother moved from Haiti a few years ago to help her at home, as well.
While she juggles the challenges of her immediate family here on Long Island, she also feels the weight of the struggles her extended family faces back in Haiti and sends support she can spare to assist them as well. As the sole provider for her, the girls and her mom, Maude has been a great steward of her finances, building up a small savings thanks to her hard work and her ability to manage expenses and the government programs for families in need during the pandemic. The family lives on very little and have learned to live without items many of us would consider necessities. Most recently, her landlord decided they no longer wanted to rent out the small, shared basement apartment and the family was forced to find a new rental. With the goal of staying within the same school district and the challenge of staying within her small budget, Maude has since successfully secured another shared apartment for their family. It’s a safe, albeit small, place for her family while she continues to save for their forever home. Her dreams are set on owning a house where her kids can play outdoors, have friends over and enjoy more space.
To help Maude reach that dream, our CMM Cares Support Plan has aimed to alleviate expenses and allow Maude to save for their future. This year we have been able to step in provide this family with necessities they have been living without and struggling to afford. After moving into their new apartment, we arranged for the family to head to Bob’s Discount Furniture to help furnish and create a comfortable and nurturing environment. Having your own brand-new basic furniture makes a huge difference – to lay your head on your own new bed at night, to put your clothes away in a dresser. All members of the family now have new beds, mattresses, and dressers of their own. A first for all of them and something that has made them feel “cared for.” The organization also covered her eldest daughter, Abigail’s orthodonture balance, yet another monthly fee weighing heavily on the family. Additionally, we have pledged to cover one year of car insurance premiums and supplied the family with grocery gift cards. These gifts have been life changing for Maude, allowing her to have the ability to take care of other expenses that were often thought of as unreachable and some peace of mind!
If you’re interested in helping us support this family with in-kind donations, and financial support for our plans, or if you know local businesses that may be interested in participating, please contact Victoria at vtringone@cmmcares.org.
Another heartwarming tale of nonprofit collaboration unfolds! Recently, we connected one of our 2022 CMM Cares families, who had sought refuge from Ukraine and now call Long Island their home, with the incredible local organization known as Splashes of Hope. Splashes is a local nonprofit dedicated to creating art to transform spaces, enrich environments and facilitate healing.
A remarkable group of skilled artists, who graciously dedicate their time as volunteers at Splashes, came together to craft a unique and personalized piece of artwork for the young girls. The talented artists included Tyler Knabe, Sandy Caracciolo, Elizabeth Schafer, Carol Hough, Denise Rubcewich, and Ed Courtney. Their creative intention was to evoke the fond memories of the girls’ Ukrainian homeland, filling their hearts with memories of happiness while embracing their new home in New York.
As a bonus, the girls were extended an invitation to Splashes of Hope’s art studio, where they were generously offered a complimentary painting session. This experience was both enriching and uplifting.
When a U.S. veteran on Long Island needed support, several local nonprofits joined forces to help.
The organizations collaborated in an effort to assist AnnMarie Ayers, a veteran who had served in the U.S. Navy. After her military service, Ayers had struggled with not only cancer, but also military post-traumatic stress disorder and a layoff triggered by the pandemic.
CMM Cares, a Ronkonkoma-based nonprofit, was among the organizations ready to assist. Founded in 2019, the organization says it was built on the belief that by bringing the Long Island community together, it can make a “huge difference in the lives of its neighbors.” So when Ayers was nominated for the CMM Care’s Adopted Family Program, the organization got took note.
Ayers was able to keep her family in their home through a mortgage remodification program she learned about from UnitedWay of Long Island. John Diaz, United Way’s director of community impact, guided Ayers’ through the process and then took that assistance a step further by nominating her for the CMM Cares program.
Members of CMM Cares developed a program that specifically addressed the challenges Ayers was facing.
“It’s incredible the impact we can make by working together, pooling our resources and combining our efforts as nonprofit and for profit organizations,” Joe Campolo, chairman of the board at CMM Cares, said in a statement.
“Individually nonprofits help many, together we can change lives,” he added. “We look forward continuing to help those in need, one Long Island family at a time.”
Each year CMM Cares supports three to four Long Island families in need. After hearing Ayers’ story, the organization was determined to further help her get back on her feet and make a lasting impact on her life.
CMM Cares approved a customized support plan designed to provide Ayers with both short-term and long-term assistance. In addition to purchasing immediate household necessities, the organization helped her create a long-term plan to pay down her debt and get ahold of her finances, which was a factor in her PTSD recovery.
CMM Cares then introduced Ayers to Lisa Gatti, CEO of Islandia-based Pal-O-Mine Equestrian.
Gatti welcomed Ayers into Pal-O-Mine’s military program, which includes equine-assisted psychotherapy sessions. As an Eagala Designated Program, they have Eagala-certified professionals on site with specialized training and experience working with the military community. Its onsite Eagala certified professionals who are specialized training and experience working with the military community. Through the program, Ayers spends time at the farm, building relationships with the horses to reduce anxiety and find peace from her military PTSD.
Ayers was also gifted a complete solar energy system donated by SUNation Energy’s not-for-profit SUNation Cares.
SUNation CEO Scott Maskin, who serves as a board member for CMM Cares, stepped in to help alleviate some of the Ayers’ monthly expenses. Once completed and connected, this renewable energy system is designed to aid Ayers and her family with lower monthly electricity bills and more control over their energy. Through the donation of 21 solar panels, along with equipment and labor for the installation, this solar energy system will generate approximately 5,344 watts of energy annually. This is estimated to offset about 74% of the Ayers home energy use and greatly reduce their monthly electricity costs, according to CMM Cares.
Also collaborating on supporting Ayers was Salvatore Ferro, a councilman at Town of Huntington.
