102 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • DECEMBER 2019
SPOTLIGHT ON 2019 WINNERS
YOU VOTED, THEY WON
LI’S TOP DO-GOODERS
BEST CHARITY
John Thiessen’s Children’s
Foundation
John Thiessen’s Children’s Foundation
is all about giving back to kids
who are undergoing treatment at
local hospitals and child-care facilities.
Theissen founded the nonprofit
in 1992, when he was 17 and hospitalized
at a local children’s hospital with
a brain tumor. He decided to hold a
holiday toy drive beneffiting children
in local hospitals. That first drive
was a success, as he collected more
than 800 new toys in just two weeks
and brought them to three different
hospitals. That was the beginning of
what has become a year-round effort.
Since then, JTCF has collected more
than 920,000 new toys and has donated
them to sick and underprivileged
children in hospitals and child-care
facilities. JTCF also donates therapeutic
and recreational equipment.
Donations have enabled JTCF to provide
televisions, video game systems,
electronics, arts and crafts supplies,
and more! 1881 Wantagh Ave., Wantagh,
516-679-5098, jtcf.org
BEST NOT-FOR-PROFIT
IGHL (Independent Group Home
Living Program, Inc.)
Independent Group Home Living’s
mission is to provide programs,
services and support for people with
intellectual disabilities so they can
realize their full potential as human
beings and contributing members of
their community. The organizations
develops innovative and accommodating
programs, services and
supports to promote the personal
growth of the people it serves. IGHL
seeks progressive legislation
and sufficient funding in order to
provide the highest quality of care,
and in turn to protect the right of
constituents and their families to
access appropriate care. The organization
also focuses on its position
as a leader in the field, developing
strategies to have a positive influence
on the future of services for people
with intellectual disabilities. 221 N.
Sunrise Service Rd., Manorville, 631-
878-8868, ighl.org
BEST ANIMAL RESCUE
Safe and Sound Sanctuary, Inc.
Safe and Sound Sanctuary provides
a safe haven for dogs who were destined
to be destroyed by individual
owners, rescue groups, and shelters.
Several of the dogs who have entered
their sanctuary support system were
strays that were released most likely
by owners who lost their homes
during difficult financial times
during the past several years. Most
of the sanctuary’s felines are of the
stray and feral population that we
care for with housing, veterinary
care and routine feeding. P.O. Box
24, Islip Terrace, 631-277-5246,
safeandsoundsanctuary.org
BEST ENVIRONMENTAL
ORGANIZATION
SUNation Solar Systems
SUNation Solar Systems is the local
solar expert trusted by more than
2,500 Long Islanders since 2003 for
professionally installing the highest
quality and most durable equipment.
The staff prides themselves
on their professionalism, customer
service and providing the highest
level of customer satisfaction. They
are your neighbors – they live here,
they work here and they give back
to their communities. They want to
make Long Island a better place to
live for generations to come through
clean, efficient solar power. Let them
show you how you can own your future
and save money with your own
solar power system. Discover the
bright side of a money-saving solar
system, custom-built with the industry’s
best warranty and Zero Out-of-
Pocket (ZOOP) costs. And trust their
eight-year reputation as the number
one solar company on Long Island.
SUNation: Solar as it should be. 171
Remington Blvd., Ronkonkoma,
631-750-9454, sunation.com
BEST PLASTIC SURGICAL
GROUP
Long Island Plastic Surgical Group
The Long Island Plastic Surgical
Group has served New York and
Long Island for more than 60 years.
Its founders were two army surgeons
determined to heal patients
like those they encountered during
World War II. Today, their practice
has expanded to nine locations with
22 talented surgeons. Renowned for
patient care, LIPSG is also a sought-after
training institution where more
than 100 plastic surgeons have come
to learn the latest techniques from
the expert staff. LIPSG is also known
for its many volunteer missions
to provide necessary plastic and
reconstructive surgery to patients
in impoverished areas. At locations
throughout Long Island, Brooklyn,
Queens, Manhattan, and Westchester,
patients will find compassionate
and comprehensive care, state-of-theart
facilities, and convenient on-site
surgical suites. Multiple Locations,
516-504-3014, lipsg.com
NOMINATIONS START JANUARY 1!
Voting is closed in the 2020 contest and winners will be
announced. Nominate your favorite businesses and people in
the 2021 Bethpage Best of Long Island program.
Step 1: Visit bestoflongisland.com
Step 2: Click "Nominate"
Step 3: Select a category and person or business you want to nominate
Step 4: Click “Submit”
Step 5: Repeat for all of your favorite people and businesses
To find all the other 2019 Bethpage Best of Long Island contest winners, visit
bestoflongisland.com
Brought to you by Bethpage Federal Credit Union
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/ighl.org
/safeandsoundsanctuary.org
/sunation.com
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