Seaford Wellness Council Donates $14K To Children’s Reading Program

SEAFORD, NY — While April showers are known to bring May flowers, for the Seaford Wellness Council the saying might be a little different. December cardio brought April charity, as the wellness council’s 20th annual Hot Chocolate 5K Run/Walk, held Dec. 6, raised $14,000 for the Seaford Public Library’s Summer 2026 Children’s Reading Program.

With the donation finalized, a check for the full amount will be presented to the library’s Board of Trustees at their Apr. 13 meeting. Attending on behalf of the wellness council will be president Laura Metzdorff-Rivera, her predecessor Michael DiSilvio, vice president Hal Udell and his predecessor Kenneth Nersesian. Additionally, the board of trustees will be represented by president John Scaparro, vice president Peter Ruffner, Secretary Margaret Grub and assistant financial secretary Peter Janiec. For Grub and Scaparro, the evening may be of particular import: They served as the starters for the 5K in December.

“Knowing that [Seaford kids are] going to read over the summer, and come back, hopefully, in September, with a little bit more knowledge than they left with is absolutely wonderful,” Grub told Patch in December. “My own three kids, I made sure they joined the Seaford reading program every summer. I think a child should never stop reading-nor an adult.”

For DiSilvio, the donation is just a reaffirmation of a long-standing commitment from the wellness council. The importance of the public library, he said, is highlighted through charity efforts like this one.

“The SWC has always supported the SPL including financial support for the annual summer concert series and the 50 th Anniversary celebration and this donation is further acknowledgement by the SWC of the importance of the Library to Seaford,” DiSilvio said.

From the library’s point of view, the donation makes it possible to program a valuable piece of its summer schedule.

“We are extremely appreciative of the recognition and contribution that the Wellness Council has bestowed on the Library,” Scaparro said.

“The SWC could not be happier to have designated the 2026 Summer Children’s Reading Program for this year’s support,” Metzdorff-Rivera said. “I know first-hand from my daughters of the wonderful activities that are held at the Library in the summer months as well as all year long.”