New Hyde Park, NY, November 26, 2002: The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island invites the community to participate in its Annual Lights of Love Campaign. Through this effort, individuals and corporations have the opportunity to sponsor a light for the special people in their lives or as a remembrance for a loved one.
"The Lights of Love Campaign is certainly one of our most cherished traditions because it seals the wonderful partnership we share with our friends, volunteers and supporters. Being away from home with a sick child turns the Holidays into a truly heartrending time for the whole family. Therefore, our main goal is to make the Holidays a little brighter for them by also illuminating the House with thousands of twinkling, sparkling lights," said Executive Director Silvana LaFerlita Gullo.
Individuals may donate a minimum of $5.00, while corporate contributions begin at $10.00 for sponsoring a light. A lovely holiday greeting card will be sent from the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island to each person on the list provided by the individual, family or business to acknowledge the gift. To sponsor a light, or for more information about the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island, please call (516) 775-5683 or log on to www.rmhlongisland.org.
This year, the Lights of Love will also be placed on a 30-foot Christmas tree donated by Christmas Décor of Huntington Village, a part of a national holiday and event decorating franchise which donates Holiday decorations to Ronald McDonald Houses in their respective communities. Kristian Agoglia of Looks Great Services in Huntington Village installed and decorated the tree, which is located at 600 Country Road on the corner of Clinton Avenue and Glen Cove Road in Garden City, Long Island. Vincent Polimeni of the Polimeni Organization generously gave access to his property to provide a highly visible venue for the tree, as well as to help a good cause and to bring some Holiday cheer to a busy intersection.
"We really appreciate the generosity of the individuals and businesses who have helped make the placement of the tree possible. We look forward now to the show of goodwill that our friends and supporters will demonstrate during the season by sponsoring a Light of Love," Ms. Gullo said. "Each light will symbolize the fact that the House is a beacon to families in crisis. We invite everyone to sponsor a light so that we never have to turn away any family who is caring for a sick child," Gullo added.
The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island, is a home-away-from home for seriously ill children undergoing medical treatment in area hospitals. Located on the campus of Schnieder Children's Hospital at 267-07 76th Avenue in New Hyde Park, the House accommodates families in a warm and supportive environment. Since opening in 1986, Ronald McDonald House of Long Island has served more than 7,500 families from the United States and more than 62 countries around the world. "The majority of families we serve are from Nassau and Suffolk Counties, as well as from the five boroughs of New York City," Ms. Gullo said.
