LIREG donates $111,000 to four Long Island charities

The Long Island Real Estate Group (LIREG) has made philanthropic contributions totaling $111,000 to four L.I. charities. The donations are to go to the Bethpage-based Coalition Against Child Abuse and Neglect together with the Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic Violence; St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson; Canine Companions for Independence in Medford; and Bethpage-based Adults and Children with Learning and Developmental Disabilities Inc. LIREG, a networking and philanthropic group composed of professionals in the real estate industry and allied trades, raised the funds through member contributions and through fund-raising events held throughout the year. Its donations are used to fund real estate-related endeavors of various charities. "These four organizations were the most outstanding in terms of their reach and the scope of their projects among the numerous organizations that sought our assistance this year," said Peter Schapero, chairman of LIREG's charity committee. "These contributions are examples of how seriously the Long Island Real Estate Group regards its efforts to make a difference on Long Island," said LIREG co-president Samuel Yedid. "I am very happy that our organization can do so much good by spreading our donations across such a cross-section of Long Island charities," said LIREG co-president Brad Cronin. The Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Coalition Against Child Abuse and Neglect, together will receive $25,000 to support the expansion and restructuring of The Safe Center Long Island to accommodate enhanced services for the trauma victims of sexual abuse, child abuse, and domestic violence. The two organizations, housed in a former Northrop Grumman aircraft factory, are merging. St. Charles Hospital will receive $36,000 to be used toward the construction a 10-bed unit for children who are ventilator dependent. The hospital plans include construction of a child life activity/play center and the purchase 10 recliner chairs to be placed in patient rooms for use as a sleeper for overnight parent stays. Meanwhile, $25,000 has been donated to Canine Companions for Independence, a national, non-profit organization that breeds, raises, and trains assistance dogs for people with disabilities, other than blindness. The dogs are provided at no cost to the recipient. The organization will purchase and install 27 energy efficient kennel doors at its Medford training facility that will save it $25,000 annually in fuel bills. And $25,000 has been donated to Adults and Children with Learning and Developmental Disabilities to help fund the construction of a dental examination room in its recently completed Charles Evans Health Services Center in Bethpage. LIREG, formed in 2004 to encourage networking among Long Island real estate developers, owners and allied trades and to raise funds for charitable real estate-related projects on Long Island, has 300 members. Since its founding, LIREG has contributed almost $800,000 to numerous real estate-related projects undertaken by charities on Long Island. In addition to the four new charities, past LIREG contributions have gone to Angela's House, Camp Anchor, Children's Medical Fund of New York, Family Service League, Fitzgerald House, The Glen Cove Boys & Girls Club, Habitat for Humanity, Haven House/Bridges Inc., Hospice Care Network, Katz Women's Hospital, Let the Children Play Foundation, Long Island Alzheimer's Foundation, Long Beach Recreation Center, Long Island Holocaust Memorial, North Shore Holiday House, Ronald McDonald House of Long Island, Sid Jacobson Jewish Community Center, St. Francis Hospital and Sunrise Day Camp. For more information go to www.LIREG.org