Bethpage-HQ ACLD Raises Nearly $300K at Annual Enviable Life Ball

Bethpage, NY; February 1, 2019 – Since hosting its annual Enviable Life Ball in late 2018 at The Garden City Hotel in Garden City, Adults and Children with Learning and Developmental Disabilities, Inc. (ACLD) announced today that it has raised a total of $290,000 in support of programs and services for adults and children with autism, learning and other developmental disabilities. ACLD’s fundraising initiatives to support the Gala concluded in January 2019. Part of ACLD’s mission is to provide the opportunities for people with disabilities to pursue enviable lives and increase their independence.

At the Gala, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran received ACLD’s Humanitarian Award in recognition of her of support of ACLD. In September 2018, she helped lead the groundbreaking ceremony of Oyster Bay Gardens, LLC at ACLD’s Bethpage campus – one of only three affordable housing projects in New York State to be approved in 2017 by OPWDD (Office for People With Developmental Disabilities) that will provide housing for seniors and adults with developmental disabilities.

“County Executive Curran is an advocate who shares in our dedication to helping people with autism, learning and other developmental disabilities to pursue enviable lives,” said Alan Spiegel, President of ACLD Foundation. “We are grateful for her commitment to this cause.”

Douglas Golub of MediSked, LLC was also honored by ACLD as he received the Corporate Leadership Award for his efforts in supporting people with special needs. As President and Founder of MediSked, LLC, Golub focuses his expertise and passion on delivering innovative and user-friendly health care and human services technology solutions.

“Mr. Golub is a creative visionary and a true friend of ACLD,” commented Spiegel. “He has joined us in making a difference for the people who turn to us for support.”

Another major highlight of the evening was the introduction of the Presenting Sponsor Long Island Elite (LIE). LIE Founder Dawn Strain and LIE President Michael Stern delivered moving speeches and announced that LIE had raised $100,000 for ACLD’s RewearAble program. LIE, a non-profit mentoring and networking organization, selected ACLD as its 2018 Charity Partner of the Year. A check was presented to ACLD in January 2019. The money raised by LIE is a separate gift directly benefiting RewearAble.

NBC4 New York Traffic Reporter Lauren Scala served as emcee of the Gala for the fourth year, and guests were entertained with live music performed by Skyline Orchestra’s Code Bleu. The Bethpage High School Jazz Combo performed live during cocktail hour. More than 300 people attended, making this ACLD’s largest event of the year.

Major sponsors for ACLD’s Enviable Life Ball included Presenting Sponsor Long Island Elite; Diamond Sponsors Comcast NBCUniversal and Pilot RB; Emerald Sponsor Carol Lever and Roy Grover; Amethyst Sponsors BioReference Laboratories and MediSked, LLC; Platinum Sponsors Alan and Ellen Spiegel and Morritt Hock & Hamroff, LLP; Sapphire Sponsors Aveniras, Bonnie and Richard Perlman, Fusion Architecture, PLLC, Irwin Siegel Agency, Performance Contracting, Susan Sha, CPA, CGMA, TD Bank and Valley National Bank; Auction Sponsor Baker Tilly; and Community Partnership Sponsor Delta.

Founded in 1957, ACLD is a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit agency whose mission is to provide opportunities to more than 3,000 children and adults with autism, learning and developmental disabilities to pursue enviable lives, promote independence and foster supportive relationships within the community. ACLD employs more than 1,300 people and operates more than 87 different program sites including community residences and apartment programs across Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Services include early childhood services, day habilitation, residential alternatives, vocational training and job placement, recreation programs, respite, family support services, and occupational, speech and physical therapies. For more information, go to www.acld.org.

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PHOTO CAPTIONS:

• PHOTO 1: Pictured from left to right at ACLD’s Enviable Life Ball are Enviable Life Ball emcee Lauren Scala, Traffic Reporter for NBC4 New York; ACLD Board of Trustees First Vice President Richard Breuninger; ACLD Corporate Leadership Award Recipient Douglas Golub of MediSked, LLC; ACLD Humanitarian Award Recipient Nassau County Executive Laura Curran; ACLD Foundation Board President Alan Spiegel; and ACLD Executive Director Robert C. Goldsmith.
• PHOTO 2: Pictured from left to right at ACLD’s Enviable Life Ball is ACLD’s Emerald Sponsor Carol Lever with her sons Jeffrey Lever and David Lever.
• PHOTO 3: Pictured at ACLD’s Enviable Life Ball are ACLD’s Presenting Sponsor Long Island Elite members gathering together with ACLD Executive Director Robert C. Goldsmith (center left).