United Way of Long Island Announces Honorees for Annual LIVE UNITED Celebration Luncheon, Sponsored by Bethpage Federal Credit Union

Honorees include Katherine Heaviside, President, Epoch 5 Public Relations; PSEG Long Island; and TWU Local 252

United Way of Long Island will honor organizations, individuals, and labor unions at its annual LIVE UNITED Celebration Luncheon on Wednesday, May 10 at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury.  The fundraising event, supported by longtime Title Sponsor Bethpage Federal Credit Union, will be hosted by Linda Armyn, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Bethpage Federal Credit Union and Paul Fleishman, Vice President of Public Affairs at Newsday.

With an expected fundraising goal of $625,000, this luncheon is one of the largest yearly philanthropic events on Long Island. The LIVE UNITED Celebration Luncheon welcomes more than 800 guests to honor those who share United Way’s vision in energizing the future for the next generations of the region.

The 2017 LIVE UNITED Celebration Luncheon will present three honors for leaders who have shown the dedication and ongoing generosity and commitment to help United Way of Long Island transform the lives of thousands of individuals on Long Island.  Honorees include Katherine Heaviside, President of Epoch 5 Public Relations receiving The Anthony J. Stupore Live United Volunteer Champion Award; PSEG Long Island receiving the LIVE UNITED Corporate Champions Award; TWU Local 252 receiving The Elena M. Perez Pioneer Vision Award.

Theresa A. Regnante, President and CEO of United Way of Long Island remarked on the impact that the 2017 Honorees have made. “The success of our organization hinges upon the extraordinary acts of those who are in a position to energize the future for the next generation of Long Islanders. Katherine Heaviside, PSEG Long Island and TWU Local 252 each have made a tremendous difference in their own ways and we are proud to honor them at our Celebration Luncheon.”

The LIVE UNITED Celebration Luncheon is made possible through the support of the following sponsors:
Bethpage Federal Credit Union, PSEG Long Island, GEICO, MSC Industrial Supply Co., National Grid,  Suffolk Transportation Service, Inc., Flushing Bank, Garfunkel Wild, P.C., JPMorgan Chase & Co., Macy’s, Citi Community Development, Island Outreach Foundation, Nawrocki Smith LLP, Newsday, Ruskin Moscou Faltischek P.C., Deloitte & Touche LLP, Main Street Financial Group, Northwell Health, Santander Bank, TriState Capital Bank, The Nature’s Bounty Co., Albanese Organization, Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty, EisnerAmper LLP, Epoch 5 Public Relations, Gale International, Leviton, Local 338 RWDSU/UFCW, Long Island Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, Prestige Employee Administrators, Inc., St. Joseph’s College, Tanger Outlets Deer Park, and TWU Local 252.

To attend or learn more about supporting the United Way of Long Island’s LIVE UNITED Celebration Luncheon visit www.unitedwayli.org/2017luncheon

THE 2017 LIVE UNITED AWARD RECIPIENTS ARE:

The Anthony J. Stupore LIVE UNITED Volunteer Champion Award:
Katherine Heaviside, President, Epoch 5 Public Relations

The Anthony J. Stupore LIVE UNITED Volunteer Champion Award was named in memory of an extraordinary individual who demonstrated a distinguished history of volunteer service, and a profound commitment to fulfilling the United Way of Long Island’s mission of advancing the common good. The recipient of this award personifies the selfless, generous and altruistic qualities demonstrated by Anthony J. Stupore, who served United Way of Long Island for 15 years as a volunteer, Board member and Treasurer.  

Katherine Heaviside is President of Epoch 5 Public Relations and has served on United Way of Long Island’s Board of Directors for 30 years with a presence on the Executive Committee for over 15 years. Her connections to the news media, local businesses and influential community members make her a powerful force for good, forging beneficial partnerships between the nonprofits she advocates for and companies who wish to give back. 

Katherine’s commitment to her community extends beyond her dedication to United Way.  She is a member of the Executive Board of Directors of the Long Island Association, as well as serving on the boards of several business associations and educational and humanitarian organizations.  She was named one of Long Island’s “Top Influentials” by Long Island Business News, one of the “Fifty Most Powerful Long Islanders” by the Long Island Press and a “New York State Woman of Distinction” by the New York State Senate.  She is a charter member of the Top 50 Women on Long Island, Hall of Fame; recipient of Promote Long Island’s Spirit Award for Entrepreneurship and received the 2017 ATHENA Leadership Award.

LIVE UNITED Corporate Champion Award:
PSEG Long Island

The LIVE UNITED Corporate Champion Award recognizes an outstanding company and its employees and their ability to mobilize and enhance the community. They embody the action of give, advocate and volunteer.

PSEG Long Island’s relationship with United Way is dynamic - its employees, which includes International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1049, have quickly grown into one of United Way's leading contributors. In addition, PSEG Long Island partnered with United Way to launch BeReadyLI.org, the region’s newest comprehensive resource helping families prepare for emergencies and disasters.  

Employees of PSEG Long Island can routinely be found volunteering at a number of community fundraising events, as well as offering a variety of free outreach programs that educate children about safety and emergency preparedness. As committed community leaders, PSEG Long Island employees gave more than 18,000 hours of their time to community service projects with a presence at nearly 800 events last year.

The Elena M. Perez Pioneer Vision Award:
Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 252

Image result for local 252 twuThe Elena M. Perez LIVE UNITED Pioneer Vision Award was named in memory of a remarkable individual who exhibited a visionary devotion to philanthropy and long-term commitment to creating a better future for all Long Islanders. The recipient of this award, whether an individual or organization, personifies the exemplary leadership, enthusiastic optimism and vision demonstrated by Elena M. Perez, a longtime Bank of America associate and Board Member of United Way of Long Island. 

Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 252 was chartered on August 1, 1946 and currently represents more than 4,000 transit operators, school bus drivers, van drivers, matrons, paratransit operators and mechanics. As one of United Way of Long Island’s most ardent labor supporters, TWU Local 252 and its members focus their support on Mission United, a program dedicated to providing critical services to military veterans as they transition home, through a multitude of special events and workplace giving efforts.

TWU’s commitment to aiding veterans extends on a national level, with the operation of a Veterans Committee comprised of dedicated volunteers from local unions across the country serving veterans with projects including building mortgage-free homes, collecting and distributing donations, and providing guidance and support in benefits and employment operations. In addition, the TWU Working Women’s Committee dedicates endless hours of work to running special events specifically aimed at assisting veterans.