NOVEMBER 2018 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 95
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Call to Action:
Making a Difference on Long Island
One Person, One Cause at a Time
Those who attended the Angel Awards on September 27 know
firsthand the incredible impact that even one person’s selfless
efforts can make in the lives of the less fortunate on Long Island.
Rhonda Klch, Executive Director of the Equity First Foundation,
said each of the incredible 20 women honored at the luncheon
do inspirational work on behalf of their communities every day.
“These women, all amazing in their own right, all a reflection
of the strong, positive, powerful images that we see when we
think of the word empowerment,” she said.
The Angel Awards honor the memory of the life of Rhonda’s
mother, who was also a philanthropist. Klch’s nonprofit provides
a variety of assistance to those in need.
Angel Award honorees included Tracey Lutz of CHI; Allyson
Scerri, who founded New Beginnings, a traumatic brain injury
treatment facility in Medford; Gina Centauro, who cofounded
Rescuing Families to help families make required renovations
to homes; Lisa Albinowski, a Senior Care specialist with
Coldwell Banker; Megan Smith of Schneps Community News
Group, who volunteers with the Leukemia & Lyphoma Society,
Michael Magro Foundation & Stupid Cancer; Anne Line of
the Carol Baldwin Research Fund; Christina Lentini of State
Farm; Patricia Peterson of Angels of Long Island; Therese
Mora of Investors Bank; Nicole Contrera, a ZUMBA fundraiser
organizer; Donna Lillie, who supports the Boy Scouts; Debbie
Stone of Pop Earth and Teri Mangione, both with boys who
were diagnosed on the spectrum; Judiann Carmack-Fayyaz,
a teacher from Bridgehampton who won the 2016 New York
Agriculture Teacher of the Year Award; Renee Flagler from
Girls Inc., which empowers young women on Long Island;
Carla Hamilton, director of the Hofstra University MBA Coop
program; Patricia Balestras from Bucket List Tour; Connie
Henriquez and Chrissy Bogue from their TV show Date Night,
and Heidi Felix, a community leader.
Klch alone has given countless workshops, seminars and
training to people who are incarcerated, homeless, receiving
social services, veterans, and others who would not normally
have access to this important information and services.
Her organization itself provides low- to no-cost services to
individuals and groups in areas including understanding
money, financial management, special needs, estate planning,
and many issues relating to financial education.
She issued a call to action to remind the public that everyone
has the ability to make a difference by following the example
of those honored at the Angel Awards luncheon.
Upcoming events her foundation is hosting include the annual
event to Celebrate Veterans Day on November 10 for veterans
and their families, and Holiday Dream, an event that provides
hope for at least 500 needy families during the holidays.
To get involved in EFF, contact Rhonda or Lisa at 631-714-
4822x102 or 110 or e-mail rhonda@equityfirstfoundation.org
or lisa@equityfirstfoundation.org. For more information,
visit equityfirstfoundation.org
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