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.
Our Golf Outing on June 5, 2023 at St. George’s Golf and Country Club was a tremendous success. The day was filled with perfect weather, enthusiastic participants, and a spectacular golf course. From the moment the golfers teed off to cocktails at sunset, the event was full of energy. We would like to extend our gratitude to the honorees, John Miller, President & CEO of America’s VetDogs, and David W. Clausen, CEO of Coastal Insurance, the participants, and the sponsors who made this event possible. Together, we raised funds to take care of our Long Island Adopted Families.
We were introduced to Navy veteran Annmarie Ayers by our nonprofit partners at United Way of Long Island. This mother of two, with a daughter in college and a son in high school, has struggled for years with a variety of health issues. Being laid off due to COVID exacerbated her symptoms and struggles with cancer and military PTSD. It was very difficult for her to head back to work full-time. Being unemployed due to the pandemic has left her in significant debt and unable to provide all the necessities for her family. CMM Cares has been the helping hand that she’s needed to focus on treating her medical issues while working to provide both financially and emotionally for her family. We’ve been a source of hope and support, giving her a renewed faith that she can and will overcome all the challenges she has faced.
CMM Cares crafted a customized Support Plan to provide her with both short-term and long-term assistance. Helping her with the immediate necessities she was struggling to provide, we quickly covered expenses for household items such as a vacuum, new towels, bed linens, and pet food. We purchased larger items as well, such as a new mattress, oven, and Chromebooks for her children. Most importantly, we helped her create a long-term plan to pay down her debt and get ahold of her finances that has been a major factor in her PTSD and getting back on her feet financially since COVID.
Working with our nonprofit partners, we’re able to expand our Support Plan even further as we introduce our Cares Families to additional resources available through other local nonprofits within our community. Our friends at Pal-O-Mine Equestrian have welcomed Annmarie to participate in their Military Program, which provides Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) sessions at the farm. As an Eagala Designated Program, they have Eagala Certified Professionals on site with specialized training and experience working with the military community. It’s a wonderful support to her as she embraces the time she spends on the farm building relationships with the horses to reduce anxiety and find peace from her military PTSD.
Additionally, the Ayers family 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. Since completed and connected, this renewable energy system will 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.
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.
Collaborating with fellow nonprofits and business leaders is key for CMM Cares, a charitable foundation with a vision of making a difference in the lives of Long Island families. We’ve recently worked with the Guide Dog Foundation, a Smithtown-based national nonprofit organization that trains and places guide dogs for individuals who are blind, visually impaired or have other disabilities, to identify a career change dog that could be matched with one of our 2021 Adopted Families.
In 2021, CMM Cares supported three families including The Neikens and their son, Casey. Casey is a 13-year-old boy who was diagnosed shortly after birth with Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a group of rare diseases that cause fragile, blistering skin. With our funds raised and the support of the business community, we were able to make significant changes to Casey’s life which were celebrated at our annual Wine & Dine Gala in September of last year.
After introducing John Miller, president, and CEO of the Guide Dog Foundation, to Casey’s father John Niekens, the Guide Dog Foundation was able to identify a career change black Labrador Retriever that has now been adopted into the Neikens family! The dog provides Casey with companionship in his everyday activities and allows Casey to enjoy the natural therapeutic support that comes with forming a close bond with a dog in the comfort of his own home.
“I want to thank CMM Cares for introducing us to John Miller and the Guide Dog Foundation,” Beth Neikens, mother of Casey, says. “Our dog is an absolute joy. Casey is such a different kid, so happy and so full of energy. She is the absolute perfect, sweetest little dog.”
“The Guide Dog Foundation is proud to work with a great partner like CMM Cares in placing this career change dog with the Neikens family,” said John Miller. “It is so impactful when local nonprofits can join forces on initiatives like this. We are eager to watch the bond grow between Casey and the pup and work with CMM Cares on future projects.”
“We are so thankful for the Guide Dog Foundation and their generous offering for the Neikens family,” says Victoria Tringone, Executive Director of CMM Cares. “By working together with organizations like the Guide Dog Foundation, we can compound our efforts and continue supporting our Adopted Families beyond our yearlong commitment.”
Following a successful year, we are pleased to share that we are able to support two families for 2022! Learn more about them and how you can get involved here.
