Sid Jacobson JCC to Host Seventh Annual Friendship Circle Luncheon Honoring Americana Manhasset and its Principal, Frank Castagna

Roslyn, NY (PRWEB) May 10, 2010 -- Sid Jacobson JCC will host the Seventh Annual Friendship Circle Luncheon on Thursday, May 13th, 2010 at The Garden City Hotel. This year's honorees include Americana Manhasset (http://www.americanamanhasset.com/) and Principal, Frank Castagna. The luncheon supports the Friendship Circle adult day program for the frail elderly who may be functionally and/or cognitively impaired due to Alzheimer's disease or other dementia, Parkinson's disease, stroke or MS. Additionally, the luncheon supports the first of its kind program for those in their 30s, 40s and 50s with Young Onset dementia including frontotemporal, Alzheimer's or other neurodegenerative disease (Let's Do Lunch™). Fundraising luncheons in previous years and the generosity of attendees have helped the JCC expand the Friendship Circle program (http://www.americanamanhasset.com/) to a fifth day each week. Frank Castagna has been a strong supporter of these vital programs from their inception and it is for this reason that the JCC chose to honor him.

"I'm happy to lend my support to Sid Jacobson JCC which provides a wide range of services to the community" said Mr. Castagna. "In particular, the programs that Sid Jacobson JCC has created for people of all ages with dementia have become essential to the individuals they serve and their families."

The development of Americana Manhasset has been a mission of Frank Castagna's since 1956, when the property was purchased by his father, Ferdinand. The Americana has evolved into a premier collection of over 60 international boutiques and two fine restaurants. Many of the Americana Manhasset's marketing initiatives are philanthropic in nature. Champions for Charity®, Americana's annual holiday shopping benefit, supports over 70 not-for-profit organizations including Sid Jacobson JCC. Helping to make the community an even better place to live, work and play has always been an inherent part of the Castagna vision. It is this vision and dedication to non-profits that inspired the JCC to choose Americana Manhasset as an exceptionally deserving organization to honor at the Friendship Circle Luncheon

Receiving this year's Communications Service Award is Angela Anton, publisher of Anton Community Newspapers and The Boulevard magazine. This award recognizes her dedication to publicizing important issues and events, her ongoing commitment to the SJJCC and her desire to help others.

"The JCC's programs and services touch so many lives across Long Island and they are an invaluable resource to the community" said Ms. Anton. "Their programs for spouses and children of individuals with young onset dementia (Let's Do Dinner™ and Let's Do Pizza™) show exceptional vision and compassion. The JCC has my continued support in all of their endeavors."

Sid Jacobson JCC continues its pioneering role as an affiliate of the New York City area Frontotemporal Dementia Consortium. The Consortium also includes Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, Columbia University Medical Center Taub Institute, Litwin-Zucker Research Center North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, NY Langone Medical Center, SUNY Downstate Medical Center and Weill Cornell Medical Center.

This year's luncheon is an event that not only honors these outstanding contributors to our community, but promises to be an afternoon of fun and fashion as well. The luncheon will also feature a fashion show by Americana Manhasset with fashions by Donna Karan New York. For more information on the luncheon, including sponsorships, tickets or journal ads, please contact Jeannie Cardali, JCC Special Events Coordinator, at 516-484-1545, ext. 141.

About Sid Jacobson Jewish Community Center

As the only full-service Jewish Community Center on Long Island's North Shore, Sid Jacobson Jewish Community Center and Bernice Jacobson Day School and Camp, its satellite campus in Brookville, provide a full range of cutting-edge recreational, health, fitness, educational, cultural, arts and social services programs. Sid Jacobson JCC promotes Jewish identity and provides a comprehensive program based on Jewish values, traditions, heritage and culture and is committed to enriching the lives of all individuals and families in our community. Our Centers of Excellence, Gershwind/Jacobson Health and Wellness Center; Ruth and Saul Weinberger Center for Jewish Life and Learning; Waldbaum Family Children's Center; Edward & Bernice Wenger Center for the Arts; Jack Nadel Social Services Center; Adult Services Center; Senior Center; Buslik/Levy Teen Center are here to provide the best possible services to our membership and the community at large. For more information, contact us at 300 Forest Drive, East Hills, NY, (516) 484-1545 or visit our web site at: www.sjjcc.org

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