Thank you to our New Beginnings Allies in Adoption Committee for another fabulous day filled with family time, friendship, and fun. For the third year, East Meadow’s Fire Benevolent Hall has been the site of our picnic. The vast grounds gave children plenty of room to play and enjoy the DJ activities from “All Star Party” and inflatable slide. The children did not sit down for a minute as they participated in Hula Hoop games, face painting, parachute, inflatable slides, balloon sculptures, and taking chances on the great raffle basket prizes. The food, – sponsored by “Sempre Fame”, Floral Park, NY was a hit with their full array of tasty Bar-B-Que!
The excitement continued with the raffle prizes which included a Movie Themed basket, Halloween Costume Basket, and framed, signed posters from the NY Jets.
Our families enjoy reuniting each year at the picnic to celebrate the end of summer, and the beginning of a new school year. The most valuable aspect of the picnic is the camaraderie among 
families who have had adopted from countries all over the world. Thanks to the gracious effort of our Allies in Adoption Committee: especially Judy Flynn, Sherry Chin-Anderson, Bruni Derby, and Liz Westermann. Their extra effort helped us support our Beyond the Placement Program which provides grants to families who are seeking to adopt a waiting child. This program will help assure successful adoptions for the years to come. Our committee looks forward to planning another successful picnic next year!
And thank you to all of our sponsors for supporting the picnic. We truly appreciate your generosity in donations of raffle prizes and sponsoring our Beyond the Placement Program.
- SEMPRE FAME, FLORAL PARK, NY
- NY GIANTS
- NY JETS
- GOURMET BAKE SHOP, INC. – FLORAL PARK, NY
- MARTHA CLARA VINEYARDS- RIVERHEAD, NY
- LONG ISLAND MARRIOTT – UNIONDALE, NY
- CHEF TOM SCHAUDEL – JEWEL AND A MANO RESTAURANTS
- LONG ISLAND DUCKS
- THE GATEWAY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER OF SUFFOLK COUNTY
- DEBBIE MACOMBER
- ADVENTURELAND – FARMINGDALE, NY
- THE ONE GROUP –ASELLINA RESTAURANT, NEW YORK, NY
- TRAIN FOR THE GAME- BELLMORE, NY
- LONG ISLAND CHILDREN’S MUSEUM – UNIONDALE, NY
- JAN BRETT, AUTHOR
- METRO CANDY – JERICHO, NY