Using "one can" as a catalyst for change, Canstruction L.I. is celebrating its new status as an all-volunteer recognized 501(c)(3) public charity with a record number of firms participating in this design/build competition to benefit Long Island Cares, Inc., The Harry Chapin Food Bank.
This month, competing teams of design and construction professionals, college students and middle and high school students, led by architects and engineers, will showcase their talent and creativity by designing and building giant self-supporting structures out of cans of food. Each sculpture takes thousands of cans, in a variety of sizes and colors, to create. The sculptures will be judged in categories such as Juror's Favorite, Structural Ingenuity, Best Use of Labels, Best Meal and People's Choice. Since its inception in 1992, Canstruction competitions in hundreds of cities across North America have donated over 17.5 million pounds of food to aid in the fight against hunger.
Teams will have spent months designing and testing their structures prior to the final build-out on Oct. 26th. All entries will be judged by a panel of jurors, including; John Sorrenti, AIA, of JRS Architects, Gil Anderson, PE, commissioner of Suffolk County DPW, Tony Tantillo, CBS-TV's Food Expert and Host of "Tony's Table," Carol Friedman, AVP of Nassau Community College, and Paul Anthony, comedian and founder of the Long Island Comedy Festival. This year's competition will again be hosted by RXR Realty at RXR Plaza on Oct. 27th. More than 25 professional firms, colleges, and middle/high schools will compete on a record total of 16 teams in an effort to raise 60,000 cans, bringing the event's five-year total donation to more than 200,000 cans!
The structures will be on display to the public at RXR Plaza from Oct. 28th to Nov. 10th, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the price of admission being one can of food. Visitors will use their donated can to vote for the People's Choice award winner.
At the close of the exhibition, all cans used to create the sculptures along with all cans collected from the public will be donated to Long Island Cares, Inc., the Harry Chapin Food Bank to help feed the hungry on Long Island.

"We are thrilled to see the architectural, engineering and construction community participate in record numbers this year. With the economic challenges we all face, it is both heartwarming and impressive to see these professionals give so much of themselves to help their fellow Long Islanders" said Tracy Lobdell, Executive Director of the newly-formed non-profit. "It is also very exciting to welcome middle and high school students as first-time participants, and provide them with an opportunity to learn more about these career fields as they give back to the community. We look forward to being amazed by the imagination and creativity of all of this year's teams."

About Canstruction®- Produced under the auspices of the Society for Design Administration, Canstruction® has been held in over 100 different cities in the United States and Canada, combining the competitive spirit of a design/build competition with a unique way to help feed hungry people. Competing teams, led by architects and engineers, showcase their talents by designing giant sculptures made entirely out of canned foods. At the close of the exhibitions all of the food used in the structures is donated to local food banks for distribution to pantries, shelters, soup kitchens, elderly programs and day care centers. For more information,please visit www.canstructionli.org.
About Long Island Cares, Inc. / The Harry Chapin Food Bank - Founded in 1980 by the late singer/activist Harry Chapin in response to the immediate needs of hungry Long Islanders, Long Island Cares is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, community based, regionally responsive, which works in partnership with other charitable agencies to fight hunger in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Long Island Cares is the leading anti-hunger organization and was the first food bank on Long Island. For more information on Long Island Cares, please visit www.licares.org.
About RXR Plaza - The 1.1 million square foot RXR Plaza, owned by RXR Realty, is recognized as Long Island's premier trophy office complex. RXR Realty, ("RXR") is a fully integrated private real estate company with expertise in investment management, development, design, construction, leasing, financing and asset management. The Company is one of the largest owners, managers, and developers in the New York Tri-State Area with approximately $3 billion in assets, with 69 properties comprised of over 11 million square feet, and approximately $3.5 billion in development projects. RXR, along with predecessor entities, has owned, managed and developed approximately $6 billion in assets encompassing over 20 million square feet. For more information on RXR Realty, please visit www.rxrrealty.com.

One can - that's all it takes to make a difference.

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