East Meadow Chamber fund benefits youth groups

The East Meadow Chamber of Commerce recently presented several youth organizations with checks for special projects and efforts within the community. 

The donations were made through the Chamber’s Youth Fund Committee, which receives an annual grant from the Town of Hempstead. This year, the town grant amounted to $8,300.

Ted Rosenthal, who chairs the Youth Fund Committee with Dr. Frank Saracino, presented a few of the checks at the Chamber’s general meeting on Feb. 2 at Buongusto Piesano’s. Joining him was Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray, Immediate Past President Rose Fuger and President Peter Cipriano Jr. 

The Association of East Meadow Girl Scouts, led by chairwoman Terry Soto, was the recipient of $1,000 from the Chamber fund. Soto said that her organization’s portion of the money will be put toward several programs, including one that prepares troop members for their transition from elementary school to middle school. 

“It’s a very difficult transition,” Soto said. “It’s a different world. This helps them get familiar with it.”

The Girl Scouts, who are in the fourth and fifth grades, will partake in workshops and lessons on building character. The Chamber presented a total of $1,000 to the East Meadow Baseball/Softball Association, with $500 of that going toward the sponsorship of two teams. The other $500 benefits the Challenger program, which provides children with physical or mental challenges as opportunity to enjoy a wholesome, supervised session of baseball and softball. 

“The most fundamental goal of the Challenger Division is to give everyone a chance to play, regardless of limitations,” said Stephen LaSala, EMBSA’s vice commissioner.