$230K In Donations Raised For Suffolk Veterans

HAUPPAUGE, NY — Roughly $230,000 was raised for local veterans, Suffolk officials announced Wednesday at Long Island Cares Center for Community Engagement.

Nearly $130,000 will be distributed to 21 local organizations to support and serve Suffolk County’s more than 90,000 veterans following a record amount of funding that was raised from the 2020 Virtual Suffolk County Marathon, County Executive Steve Bellone said.

"We all recognize that veterans in our community are special individuals because they're among the rare people who stepped up to put on a uniform and serve our country," Bellone stated." All of us have a special obligation to those individuals who made that decision and made the sacrifices necessary to protect freedom here and around the world."

Steve Castleton, a local philanthropist inspired by the marathon grants, announced he will donate $100,000 to Long Island Cares, which will feed tens of thousands of veterans and their families.

"Veterans who risk their lives to make this the greatest country in the world should never have to worry about where their family's or their own food is coming from," Castleton said.

Veteran groups that have applied for a grant but have yet to receive one were encouraged to keep applying by Suffolk Legislator Susan Berland.

"This money is going to help veterans in so many different ways, whether it's horses, whether it's dogs, whether it's women's supplies, whether it's yoga or whether it's all kinds of mental health treatment for veterans, these 21 groups really cover the gamut," Berland said.