DECEMBER 2020 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 21
LIGHTEMUP
BOOSTING YOUNG ADVOCATES
LightEmUp is a grassroots
inspired by the ongoing social
not-for-profit organization
good occurring in the world
that provides recognition,
in the face of such troubling
amplification, networking
times. It seems to me that
and scholarships to young
young people now are more
social-good innovators in
motivated than ever to make
order to help catapult their
a real difference.
love for humanity into
lifelong careers.
What do you like most
about living and running
“In short, we want to help
an organization on Long
young good people do more
Island? I was born and
great things,” according to
raised in Syosset, and have
Christina Ahern, its founder.
lived for the past 20 years in
We recently discussed the
Manhasset, which is where I
organization’s mission and
am raising my four children.
how the Covid-19 pandemic
Having lived on Long Island
has impacted it and more with
What is the mission of
my entire life, I have created
Ahern, a former marketer
your organization? We
a large network of support to
and mother of four from
want to shed light on those
launch and grow my business,
Manhasset, who has spent the
who inspire others by
which includes not only
past three years developing
promoting their causes and
the local high schools from
the organization’s social
awarding them scholarships
which my student volunteers
media presence and website.
to keep their fires burning
come, but also through a
What was the impetus for
bright. In a few months,
wide variety of personal
LightEmUp? LightEmUp
we will launch our socialgood
connections. Long Island
was created for a rising
platform, which will
inspire new people looking
businesses care. They are
generation, inspired by the
provide compassion-based
to be a part of social-good
eager to support the people
greatest generation – more
scholarship opportunities.
movements. Once we build
who support them, especially
specifically, my grandfather, Lt.
We will also act as a resource
this base, in 2021, we will
our youth. This neighborshelping
Joseph Sambus, Jr. He was an
for colleges and universities
launch our official website,
neighbors mentality
infantry platoon commander
with social-good programs,
which will host scholarship
and paratrooper who put faith
nonprofit organizations
contests sponsored by
over fear and, on the night of
seeking youth volunteers and
corporations and individuals
the D-Day invasion, jumped
socially conscious businesses.
looking to bring awareness
into the darkness. His platoon
What role does social media
to a cause or find innovative
successfully completed its
and technology play in your
solutions to a problem.
mission: to light up a runway
organization and how does
What is the biggest challenge
in France for incoming troops
it help you accomplish that
your organization has faced
to land on. My grandfather
mission? Currently, we are
as a result of the pandemic
was my first love and greatest
working on expanding our
and how have you dealt
teacher, and in the spirit of
social media presence on
with that challenge? Due to
harnessing his spirit and
a number of platforms, to
Covid and social-distancing
sense of purpose, I created
bring socially conscious
restrictions, we have had to
this platform. LightEmUp is
students and organizations
postpone fundraising and
a virtual runway for a rising
together. We are constantly
marketing events, which in
generation of heroes to land on.
identifying public-spirited
turn has also forced us to push
We support those who jump
brands and nonprofits to
back the launch timetable for
into the darkness and look to
connect to our growing user
our website. In spite of this,
change the course of history.
base, and creating content to
we have been increasingly
which I grew up with is what
fuels the LightEmUp dynamic
– to bring together businesses
and individual communities
to make a local impact.
Custom Computer Specialists
is proud to sponsor Spotlight LI.
Since 1979, Custom is dedicated
to providing Long Island’s
schools, local government
agencies, healthcare facilities
and businesses with advanced
technology solutions and
support. To learn more about
Custom Computer Specialists,
or to be considered for a future
Spotlight LI, please email info@
customtech.com.
Christina Ahern with
Grandfather Lieutenant
Joseph Sambus, Jr
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