Shown (from left) are: Empire National Bank’s president and COO Thomas Buonaiuto; LIAF executive director Tori Cohen, LCSW; LIAF’s music and memory coordinator Edward McDermott; LIAF’s director of Happy Day Program and volunteers/interns Lindsay Knudsen, LMSW; Imagine Awards founder, managing partner, Cerini & Associates, Kenneth Cerini, CPA. 

Islandia, NY Empire National Bank was the Innovation Award sponsor at the recent Imagine Awards gala.  The event was created to provide formal acknowledgement to some of Long Island’s most effective and innovative non-profit organizations.  Out of 20 finalists, five outstanding nonprofits receive $5,000 grants.  The Long Island Alzheimer’s Foundation (LIAF) received the 2018 Innovation Award.

“The Innovation Award recognizes a nonprofit that has been innovative in adopting new platforms that have helped the organization reach its mission. The Long Island Alzheimer’s Foundation’s Music and Memory program reinvigorates participants with individualized activities.  As a Platinum sponsor of this event, we are proud to support LIAF’s pioneering initiative that improves the quality of life for the organization’s participants,” said Empire National Bank’s president and COO Thomas  Buonaiuto.

“The Long Island Alzheimer’s Foundation is honored to be the recipient of this year’s Imagine Award for Innovation.

LIAF strives to be on the cutting edge of programs that can help individuals find a life worth living after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis,” said Tori Cohen, Long Island Alzheimer’s Foundation executive director.  

Dedicated to helping small to mid-sized privately-owned businesses, professional practices, not-for-profit organizations, municipalities and real estate professionals grow and prosper; Empire National Bank is committed to bringing the personal touch back to customer service while providing a “neighborhood” banking experience.  Headquartered in Islandia, New York, Empire National Bank has locations in Port Jefferson Station, Shirley and Mineola. A private banking-style, full-service branch is located in Manhattan.