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The MPLI Mentoring Hall of Fame PDF Print E-mail

It is virtually impossible to thank each and every one of our dedicated mentoring community of Long Island, but we wanted to find a way to recognize some very special organizations and individuals that make mentoring work on Long Island.

 
<b>Do you know a Mentoring Hero that belongs here?</b><p>If you\’d like to nominate someone who you think deserves to be honored in the Mentoring Hall of Fame please email their photo and a short description of their mentoring activities to:</p><p><b><a href=mailto:jhershey@mentorkids.org> jhershey@mentorkids.org</a></b></p> <b>Michelle Butler<br>State Farm Insurance Company<br>2008 Mentoring Achievement Award Winner</b> <p>Pictured on the right with her mentee, Samantha Suggs-Brown, Michelle Butler. Michelle has proven to be an extraordinary mentor to Samantha over the past 8 years. In Samantha’s own words, "My mentor has not only opened her heart to me, but her home, her family and her time. Having Michelle as my mentor has served as a bright light for me at times when it seemed like the power had gone out and all was dark "</p> <b>Lisa Flores<br>Great Neck Road School<br>2008 Mentoring Achievement Award Winner<br></b><p>Lisa became involved at Great Neck Elementary as a mentor to a young boy whose family became homeless and who struggled in school with behavorial issues. Lisa became the one constant in this boy’s life.</p><p>Lisa subsequently stepped in to volunteer as coordinator of the entire mentoring program. Through her care and dedication the number of teacher volunteers has grown. Lisa remains a mentor to her original mentee and a respected leader in the growing community of volunteer mentors at Great Neck Road Elementary.</p> <b>Pat Banhazl<br>Baldwin Senior High School<br>2008 Mentoring Achievement Award Winner</b><p>Ms. Banhazl took on the responsibility of Mentoring Program Coordinator in 2001. At that time the program was limited to four volunteer mentors from State Farm Insurance Company. Today – ninety three trained mentors participate in the program.</p><p>Pat Banhazl\’s work exemplifies excellence. Through her dedication, the Mentoring Program at Baldwin Senior High School has become part of an engrained culture of caring, involvement and inclusion of both the Baldwin school and business communities.</p> <b>David Perkins <br>Stimson Middle School<br>2008 Mentoring Achievement Award Winner</b><p>Mr. Perkins runs Project Excel at Stimson Middle School. Project Excel supports special needs youth academically, emotionally and socially. An important component of Project Excel is the mentoring piece. Volunteers from the surrounding community and some school staff members support Project Excel students in one to one mentoring relationships. Mr. Perkins and Project Excel have both received district wide recognition as a program of excellence.</p> <b>Michael Lyng<br>Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Long Island<br>2009 Mentoring Achievement Award Winner</b><p>In August of 2003, Michael Lyng was matched as a Big Brother to a young boy named Raymond. Mike and Raymond have been meeting consistently ever since and Michael has been one of the few constant sources of guidance in Ray\’s life, as well as an important role model.</p><p>In a recent school essay, Raymond wrote: “I can say Michael is my George Washington because he has created stability, responsibility and guidance in my life and though he may not know it, I am eternally grateful to have met him.” This past August, Raymond left for his freshman year at Penn State University.</p> <b>Toni Fabian <br>Sunrise Drive Elementary School<br>2008 Mentoring Achievement Award Winner</b><p>Toni Fabian is a social worker at Sunrise Elementary School who, with a single minded determination, helped create and grow the very successful mentoring program now running at Sunrise Elementary. Toni had originally done the same at Cherry Avenue, another elementary school in the Sayville District. </p><p>Ms. Fabian has been recognized for her contributions to the children, staff and the school community at Sunrise through her work as both mentor and mentoring program coordinator.</p> <b>Susan Samaroo<br>Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Long Island<br>2009 Mentoring Achievement Award Distinguished Nominee</b><p> <b>Fred Skolnik<br>Walnut Street Elementary School Mentoring Program<br>2009 Mentoring Achievement Award Winner</b><p>There are many words that can be used to describe Fred Skolnik, “dedicated, loyal and generous” among others. At Walnut Street school in Uniondale, they call Fred MENTOR. He has a very special connection with the students in the mentoring program. He is always attentive, compassionate and caring and when he speaks to the children and it is always with encouragement and a smile. The unique and creative games that Fred has created for the Walnut Street program are often cited by the mentees and mentors as a favorite part of the program. Games that have been adapted for the program are fun and allow the kids to learn new vocabulary words and improve analytical skills.</p><p> <b>Jeanette Bon<br>EAC Chance to Advance Mentoring Program<br>2009 Mentoring Achievement Award Distinguished Nominee</b><p> <b>Angela Staton<br>California Avenue School <br>2009 Mentoring Achievement Award Distinguished Nominee</b><p> <b>Ann Marie Anderson<br>Brentwood North Middle Schoo</b>2009 Mentoring Achievement Award Distinguished Nominee</b><p> <b>Aghostino Fernandes<br>Brentwood Freshman Center<br>2009 Mentoring Achievement Award Distinguished Nominee</b><p> <b>Dr. Courtney Herbert<br>Frank J. Carasiti Elementary School<br>2009 Mentoring Achievement Award Winner</b><p>The Frank J. Carasiti Elementary School is home to 800 students and the M&M mentoring program was started 2 years ago. This program has allowed staff members to connect with (50) children that they may not otherwise have known. The mentors are supporting students in ways that may not be possible in their classroom or home environments. There is a profound feeling of making a significant difference in a child’s life. It is now hard to imagine our school without this mentoring program. The 50 mentors at Carasiti are advocates and caring friends for these lucky children and this has all been made possible by the dedication of Dr. Herbert.</p><p> <b>Donald Hayes<br>Davison Avenue Elementary School<br>2009 Mentoring Achievement Award Winner</b><p>Every Friday – his day off from duty as a Firefighter - Mr. Hayes comes and works with at risk students at the Davison Avenue Elementary School. In the 17 years that he has been volunteering on his day off, Mr. Hayes has been able to mentor young boys who are missing a male role model. He has given these boys a more positive view of themselves and the confidence that they could be anything they wanted to be in life. His consistent presence has touched many lives in our school and Davison School is grateful to have him as a mentor and friend.</p><p> <b>Gregg Kelley<br>Baldwin Senior High School<br>2009 Mentoring Achievement Award Distinguished Nominee</b><p> <b>Kiersten Carrieri<br>Tremont Elementary School<br>2009 Mentoring Achievement Award Distinguished Nominee</b><p> <b>Jeannette Roberto<br>Marion Vedder Elementary School<br>2009 Mentoring Achievement Award Winner</b><p><b>The mentoring program at the Marion G. Vedder Elementary School was developed due to the efforts of one parent who saw a need and reached out to the school to see what could be done. When the school approved the idea of starting a mentoring program, Mrs. Roberto was one of the first teachers in line to show her support and stepped forward when it became necessary to have a teacher as part of the leadership team. She welcomed the challenge with open arms and threw herself in head first to gather support from the faculty. The program started with 16 staff members signing up on day one and has grown to over 30 volunteer mentors. This exceptional mentoring program is thriving under the strong leadership and dedication of Mrs. Roberto.</p> <b>Beverley Lee-Wo<br>EAC Chance to Advance Mentoring Program<br>2009 Mentoring Achievement Award Distinguished Nominee</b><p> <b>Angela Delessio<br>Catholic Charities<br>2009 Mentoring Achievement Award Distinguished Nominee</b><p> <b>Jim Boisi<br>Former Vice Chairman of JP Morgan<br>Founder of Mentoring Partnership of Long Island 1992<br></b><p>James Boisi has spent most of his adult life helping others through formal affiliations and nonprofit work, through his personal example and through providing leadership and being a role model to countless young professionals he encountered in the business world. Never shy of sharing his own personal story of being raised by a single parent facing financial hardships, Jim inspired many at-risk youngsters through his honesty and encouragement.</p><p>Jim has had a long and impressive business career, during which he served as an attorney, banker and corporate financier. Jim has been a persistant and tireless advocate for mentoring. In 1992, as the recently-retired Vice Chariman of JP Morgan, Jim set about establishing the Mentoring Partnership of Long Island.</p><p>Throughout his career, Jim served as a mentor to many young professionals, who never forgot his thoughtful and caring guidance. He called on these mentees when he was building the first board for the Mentoring Partnership of Long Island, and many of them came forward, eager to lend their expertise in honor of Jim\’s efforts. Jim chaired the Leadership Council until 1996, and then served as co-chair from 1996-2000. He stayed on as chair emeritus and has remained engaged, continually sharing his wisdom and expertise.</p><p> <b>John Linitz<br>Elwood John Glenn High School<br>2010 Mentoring Achievement Award Distinguished Mentor</b><p> <b>JoAnne Ditchik<br>Herricks Middle School<br>2010 Mentoring Achievement Award Distinguished Coordinator</b><p> <b>Helen Kanellopoulos<br>Baldwin School District<br>2010 Mentoring Achievement Award Distinguished Coordinator</b><p> <b>Lucy Monette<br>Chance to Advance<br>2010 Mentoring Achievement Award Distinguished Mentor</b><p> <b>Shawnee Warfield<br>Elmont School District<br>2010 Mentoring Achievement Award Distinguished Coordinator</b><p> <b>Steve Kornfield<br>Nassau County District Attorney's Office<br>2010 Mentoring Achievement Award Distinguished Mentor</b><p> <b>Sharon Leibowitz<br>Nassau County LIKE Mentoring Program, Walnut Street School<br>2011 Mentoring Achievement Award Distinguished Coordinator</b><p> <b>Connie Sepulveda<br>Turtle Hook Middle School, Uniondale<br>2011 Mentoring Achievement Award Distinguished Coordinator</b><p> <b>Kathleen Torriero<br>TurtlCarasiti Elementary School School<br>2011 Mentoring Achievement Award Distinguished Mentor</b><p>