Prudential Joyce Realty raises $10,000 for "Light It Up Blue Rockland"

Prudential Joyce Realty and a group of local merchants raised $10,000 during their "Light It Up Blue Rockland" campaign, an initiative to raise funds and awareness for the fight against autism. Participants donated a portion of their net profits during the month-long event to Autism Speaks. They presented the funds June 1 to Autism Speaks regional director Christie Godowski during a ceremony and reception held at TD Bank. Prudential Joyce Realty broker Kevin Joyce, who helped organize the inaugural fundraiser, applauded merchants' generosity and residents' support of Light It Up Blue. "Forty-seven businesses and organizations stepped up to fight autism and their generosity gets us that much closer to new treatments for the disorder," Joyce said. "Of course, all of these merchants thank consumers who supported us during the campaign." Prudential Joyce Realty and participating merchants decorated their storefronts with "Light It Up Blue" posters and other treatments. Other organizations showed their support: Pearl River School District students wore blue clothing to school, and the town of Orangetown placed a blue line down Central Avenue in Pearl River to raise awareness for the initiative. "This was a fantastic community event and it will be even stronger next year," said Joyce. "Autism afflicts one in every 110 children and Rockland County businesses and residents want to halt the disorder in its tracks."