On April 28, 2012, BBBSLI hosted the 4th Annual Walk for Kids’ Sake, presented by GEICO, raising nearly $60,000. This annual event raises much needed funds to sustain and grow BBBSLI’s mentoring program, which provides children facing adversity with a screened and trained volunteer mentor in a professionally supported 1-to1 mentoring relationship.

With a route along the Jones Beach Boardwalk, the Walk for Kids’ Sake launched it’s first Fun Run in addition to the 5K walk. Runners lined up in front of the tunnel at Field 5, which leads to the boardwalk, for a shotgun start. The 300 registered walkers followed immediately after.

Little Sister Vitina helped kick off the race, with Big Sister Silvia by her side. “I want to thank you, from all of us Littles, for being here today and supporting us!”

Winning 1st place overall in the 5K Fun Run and 1st place in the women’s division was Cassandra Gucciardo with a time of 21:37. Nine-year old Jake Rabin finished 2nd overall and first in the men’s division with a time of 22:29.

Local sponsors that made the event possible include Presenting Sponsor GEICO and Gold Sponsor Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.

Silver Sponsors: A-1 First Class Moving & Storage, Capital One Bank, Center for Wealth Preservation, Chips Technology Group, Inc., City Cellar, DeFreitas & Minsky CPA, LLC, Dycon Industries, Flushing Bank, GNP Branded Gear, Hoenigmann & Cohen CPAs P.C., Jeff & Kathi Glass, Ivy & Dan Greenburg, Jim’s Deli & Catering, Katz Zlotnick & Associates, Meyer Suozzi English & Klein, P.C., New York Auto Giant, North Shore LIJ Southside Hospital, Sanders Sanders Block Woycik Viener & Grossman, P.C., Scholastic Promotions, Shore Line Insurance, Stop & Shop of Levittown, UTZ, V.T. Mancusi, Inc. and Wells Fargo Advisors.Donations can still be made online at www.bbbsli.kintera.org/5K .

The 2012 Walk for Kids’ Sake provides the opportunity for the community to join together in support of BBBSLI, making the power of mentoring accessible to a greater number of children on Long Island who are facing adversity.

On Sunday March 11, BBBSLI celebrated the re-dedication of their office in Levittown, the E. David Woycik Jr. Building, located at 70 Acorn Lane. The celebration also announced the naming of the Commercial Industrial Brokers Society (CIBS) Conference Room and presented the installation of solar energy by Sunstream USA in the agency’s efforts to go green.

“We felt it was appropriate to rededicate the building since its original naming in 1998, much has happened since then that is worth celebrating,” remarked BBBSLI CEO, William Tymann. “Board Members E. David Woycik, Jr and James Metzger hosted a reception one year ago celebrating the naming of the James. C Metzger/E. David Woycik, Jr. Endowment Fund. The event raised significant funds that enabled our agency to renovate this building with a fresh coat of paint, new carpeting and the construction of an inviting and professional entrance.”

Mr. Tymann was presented a Citation from Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano.

“It is wonderful to all be together today in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island,” said County Executive Edward P. Mangano. “Your time and energies spent in support of this agency are what makes Nassau County great. Thank you for providing our youth with an opportunity to be future leaders.”

BBBSLI matches screened and trained volunteer mentors, or ‘Bigs’, with children ages 7-16 who could benefit from having an additional positive adult in their life, in professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships.

E. David Woycik, Jr., Partner at Sanders, Sanders, Block Woycik, Viener & Grossman, BBBSLI Board Member and major donor, remarked, “I salute all of your time, energy and resources to help Long Island’s children have the opportunity for a more secure future, to succeed in their own mission in life.”