Stories
Jen
2nd New York City Marathon
Teacher, Kings Park Central School District
Jen is grateful to be on United Way of Long Island’s Team Mission United, raising funds for veterans and those affected by COVID-19 in her community.
In 2020, the New York City Marathon was cancelled due to the pandemic. Despite this, Jen remained committed to fundraising for her community during their time of need; she…
Denise
Project Warmth Recipient
Denise is a strong-willed, full-time working mom of three children... all live at home and all depend on her, which presents its own challenges. But six years ago tragedy struck when Denise’s house was significantly damaged in a fire, which left her and her family in a dire situation. She is still struggling to rebuild her life after this tragedy. More recently,…
Tahjaray
Patricia Michels Memorial Scholarship RecipientYouthBuild Graduate
Tahjaray is no stranger to challenges or adversities. She has faced several in her lifetime but always came out stronger than she was before. She moved from Virginia to New York to provide a better life for herself and her son.
The search for an improved quality of life led her to YouthBuild Long Island. Her goal was…
Christopher & Eric
Anthony J. Stupore DREAMS Scholarship Recipients
Eric and Christopher are twin brothers who graduated from Seaford High School. Both have overcome adversity in their lives. Their father, absent for most of the time due to addiction and incarceration, left the family when the boys were young. Their mother struggled to raise and support three children and a grandparent on…
La’Kasha
Patricia Michels Memorial Scholarship Recipient
YouthBuild Graduate
La’Kasha is a career-focused, compassionate, patient and adaptable young woman. She entered YouthBuild Long Island to improve her education qualifications and career training. Currently, she has secured her TASC high school equivalency diploma and plans on attending college for a nursing degree.
The road has not been…
Marie
DREAMS For Youth Scholarship Recipient
Marie is a strong-willed and accomplished young woman. As a United Way of Long Island DREAMS for Youth Scholarship recipient, Marie is ensuring that she puts her education to its maximum use. Not even a year has passed since graduating college and she has already begun a thriving career as an artist, administrator and educator.
Since graduation,…
Richard & Sonya
VetsBuild graduatesOccupation: Entrepreneurs
Richard and his wife Sonya are ready to start the next chapter of their lives together.
Richard served 33 years as an Air Force Reservist in a variety of capacities, including a radiology specialist. Sonya is a military wife and mother. Now, the couple is preparing to start their own business in real estate.
The couple’s…
Josh YouthBuild AlumniCollege GraduateB.S. in Business Management
Josh knows not to take anything he has in life for granted. He grew up in the foster care system with his twin and older brothers, and was eventually adopted into an already large family. He remembers with a smile, “The house was almost never quiet, with a lot of people always going in and out.”
While he did not know his father…
2nd New York City MarathonInsurance Agent
Rockville Centre resident Michele, who participated in Team Mission United in 2018, raised over $10,000 despite struggling with an ankle injury. She joins Team Mission United for 2019 because she knows the importance of this cause, and how vital it is to spread the word about and support those who protect our country.
“I have such an appreciation for…
US Army Veteran1 Relay Marathon Completed1st Marathon, 1st New York City MarathonMechanical Engineer, CPI Aero
An Army mechanic turned engineer turned marathon runner. This November, Thomas will run the 2019 TCS New York City Marathon as a member of Team Mission United.
When Thomas enlisted in the US Army, he took to running and discovered he had a strong lung capacity. Within months Thomas…