MARIA A. GRASSO OF FLUSHING BANK IS NAMED AS CHAIR OF UNITED WAY OF LONG ISLAND'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS

United Way of Long Island has named Maria A. Grasso, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Flushing Bank in Uniondale, NY as the Chair of its Board of Directors. Grasso, a Smithtown resident has 30 years of experience in the commercial banking industry. Since 2002, Grasso is a long-standing Board member and has served on the Executive Committee since 2011. She is the first woman Chair in 32 years after Genie Kissinger’s post ended in 1984.

Theresa A. Regnante, President and CEO of United Way of Long Island said, “We are looking forward to Maria’s leadership as Chair of United Way of Long Island’s Board of Directors. She has been a champion of our mission to advance the common good and will continue to help us grow our impact and expand our reach throughout Long Island. Maria leads a Board comprised of Long Island’s most effective leaders, together we are committed to move the needle for thousands of families.”

Prior to joining Flushing Bank, Grasso was a Senior Vice President of the Long Island Queens Division of the Bank of New York, the Senior Vice President of the NY Metro Division of Fleet Bank, N.A., and held several other positions at Natwest Bank and Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A.

Grasso has taken a leadership role in supporting local nonprofit organizations, including the March of Dimes, Long Island Cares, Bias Help of Long Island, the American Cancer Society, Long Island Association for AIDS Care, and Long Island Network of Community Services. She has helped fundraise for the Carol M. Baldwin, Breast Cancer Research Fund, Junior Achievement, Indian Hollow Primary School, Burr Intermediate School, Harbor Child Care, Long Island Museum and the YMCA of Long Island.

In commenting on her spirit of philanthropy, Grasso said, “I have assisted many worthy not for profit organizations over the years. Each one provides outstanding services to the community. I am especially gratified to continue to serve, now as Chair, on the Board of Directors of United Way of Long Island. The organization has made, and continues to make, a significant impact on families and individuals by offering a wide breadth of diverse programs that benefit Long Islanders from every walk of life.”

Among her accolades, Grasso is a former chairperson of the Retail Banking Division Committee for the New York Bankers Association, she currently serves on the National Board of the American Kidney Fund and was recently received the Distinguished Volunteer Leadership Award at the Monsignor Hartmann Humanitarian Luncheon sponsored by ACIT. In 2013, Grasso was honored by the American Kidney Fund, the Long Island Conservatory of Music and The Italian Board of Guardians. In 2011, Grasso was named Outstanding Executive by Adelphi University. In 2010, Grasso was selected as a co-honoree at the Go Red for Women Luncheon benefiting the American Heart Association. In 2009, Grasso was named as a Who’s Who in Banking by Long Island Business News and honored as a Women Achievers Against the Odds by The Womens Fund of Long Island. Grasso received an MBA from Adelphi University in 1989 and a BBA from Hofstra University in 1986.

About United Way of Long Island
United Way of Long Island advances the common good, creating opportunities for a better life for all by focusing on the three key building blocks of education, financial stability and health. We recruit people and organizations that bring the passion, expertise and resources needed to get things done. LIVE UNITED® is a call to action for everyone to become part of the change. United Way of Long Island is part of a worldwide network spanning across 41 countries and territories, including more than 1,200 local organizations in the U.S. For more information about United Way of Long Island, please visit www.UnitedWayLI.org, United Way of Long Island on Facebook, or Twitter @unitedwayli.