Stories
For therapy assistant Megan Power, running on behalf of Team Mission United breathes new life into a longtime dream. When a patient came into her office and mentioned that Team Mission United needed three more runners, Megan’s name was quickly tossed into the ring.
“The Long Island Insurance Community is thrilled to sponsor Megan as she takes on the challenge of the 2017 TCS NYC Marathon,” said…
For Kayla, running is anything but a chore. This longtime runner first got her start in high school, but after a horrific car accident at the end of her senior year left her running future in question, she wasn’t sure she would ever race again. Her motivation through it all? It’s simple: love of the sport.
In 2006, at a time when most high school seniors are busy preparing for prom and…
For Jeff Reynolds, running for a cause is nothing out of the ordinary. As President/CEO of Family & Children’s Association, a community partner agency of United Way, Reynolds has worked extensively with programs that assist struggling families, children and adults. Now, as he joins Team Mission United, he looks to help extend these services to veterans as well.
Since his start as a…
More so than most, Gina Merante understands that teamwork makes the dream work. The eleventh of fourteen children, this recent college graduate grew up playing soccer with her siblings as teammates and her father as coach. In middle school, Gina traded soccer for track – which was later swapped out for cross country in her sophomore year of high school.
Cross country introduced Gina to both a…
Christine Tamney, Vice President at Flushing Bank, promised herself that she would run her first marathon before turning thirty-nine. Now, at the age of fifty-one, she prepares to run one of the world’s premier marathons for a third time.
This latest race will join an impressive list of marathons Christine has run throughout the country – everywhere from Long Island and New York City to…
When Albert Redmond decided to become a devout daily runner five years ago, he did so without holding back. Now, even a pre-sunrise run at 3:30 a.m. doesn’t faze this business banker, who covers an impressive 2,500 miles a year. “It doesn’t feel right if I don’t run for a day. It gives me time to myself – time to collect my thoughts,” Albert said. His commitment has taken him all the way to the…
Meet Mary - a 9 year old girl with a bubbly personality and a participant in Choice for All's Student Success Center, a program supported by United Way of Long Island. Mary's mother was referred to the program by a community member that had a child in the program with similar academic concerns. Mary’s mom is a single mother of two with Mary being the youngest. She expressed concerns about Mary's…
The Anthony J. Stupore Memorial Scholarship Fund was created to provide a pathway to success for students who have shown a passion for giving back to their community, and demonstrated a commitment to excelling in academics.
Kierra is a 2016 graduate of Valley Stream South High School. She served as President of the Class of 2016, an AP Scholar with Distinction and is a talented athlete. With a…
Josephine is many things – a woman, a mother, and a domestic violence survivor. One thing she is not, is a statistic.
"I'm just happy to be alive, that I'm not a statistic, because I do know that a couple women in Nassau County lost their lives. I could have been one of them," she reflects.
Born and raised in Nassau County, Josephine became involved with a man who was her best friend. He later…
If you first met Gabe today, you would know him as a smart and successful man. He is a husband, a father, and currently part of the NorthEastern Apprenticeship & Training Program as an IBEW Local 1049 lineman. What you wouldn't know was what he's had to overcome to get to where he is now. Here is YouthBuild graduate Gabe's story in his own words:
"I grew up in Brentwood, Long Island and lived…