SYOSSET, NY — The Town of Oyster Bay Board members honored the Sabrina Navaretta Memorial Foundation and the Navaretta family with a citation on Tuesday.
Sabrina was a Syosset alum and Woodbury resident who tragically lost her life as a passenger in a car crash in April 2023. The foundation's website states that she was an honors student at the University of Delaware and was a member of honor societies at Syosset High School in the class of 2022.
The Foundation has worked to support causes that were important to Sabrina, including environmental preservation, animal rescues, and community enrichment. The Navaretta family has been the backbone of the Foundation and has comforted and guided parents and siblings navigating the loss of a child.
Supervisor Joseph Saladino shared some touching words on the Foundation.
"Following this heartbreaking tragedy, the Navaretta family formed the Foundation to celebrate and carry forward Sabrina’s legacy of kindness, compassion, and dedication to others," he said. "Through these efforts, the Navaretta family honors Sabrina’s beautiful spirit and continues her mission of making the world a more caring and more compassionate place."
In a Facebook , Mara Navaretta shared that the family was thankful to receive the citation from the town for the work they do. Mara said they have given out scholarships to those who "emulate Sabrina's characteristics" at Syosset High School.
Some of those include scholarships for those involved in the Syosset High School Dog Rescue, a $5,000 main scholarship, and this year, a $2,500 scholarship for a Syosset senior who volunteers at the Syosset Fire Department.
"What has been near and dear to our hearts is the work that we do in the community for parents and siblings that have lost children," Mara wrote. "We run group meetings for those that need to know that they are not alone. Not only do we help and support these parents, but we now have lifelong friends that understand our journey."
An important aspect of the Foundation is to protect the environment, as Sabrina was passionate about the matter. Mara said they are working in conjunction with the "Town Of Oyster Bay project with Oyster seeding in our Oyster Bay Harbor as a Sponsor."
The Foundation will also have a dog rescue event on April 25 in collaboration with Syosset High School dog rescue group and five local rescues. There will be music and food, as well.
"Just know that the support that you give us gives us the opportunity to help more people," Mara wrote.
More information about scholarships can be found on the Foundation's website.
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