(Smithtown, NY) Developmental Disabilities Institute (DDI), the leading service provider for children and adults with autism on Long Island, hosted its “Walk, Run & Ride for Autism,” on September 29th at the Holtsville Ecology Center. DDI raised over $47,000 to help fund the vital programs and services DDI provides to over 5,000 families served by their educational and residential programs, adult day training and medical services.
(L-R) is DDI Executive Director John Lessard alongside Grand Marshals Nathan Holmes, Morgan Zajkowski, Liam Kenny, Michael Sardone and John Kenny.
“This event is all about coming together as a community and helping those who cannot help themselves,” said Co-Chairman of the event Brian Brunjes. “This year we not only met our financial goal, but we exceeded it. It is inspiring to see the generosity of a community come together and lend themselves to help benefit thousands of families who need services for their loved ones.”
Hundreds of Long Islanders came out for the fun filled day. The day kicked off with the Matthew Stansky Memorial Run followed by a scenic 5K Walk through Suffolk County’s Holtsville Ecology Park that featured activities for the entire family along the way. For the second year in a row, the event included a Motorcycle and classic car run sponsored by Hansen Home Designs. The day was capped off with a festival in the park complete with picnic lunch, music, games, a petting zoo and more.
This years event Grand Marshals are six recent St. John’s University graduates who spent one week walking 128-miles in the blistering heat this past May from the Brooklyn Bridge to the Montauk Lighthouse in order to benefit DDI. Raising over $22,000, Nathan Holmes, John Kenny, Morgan Zajkowski, Michael Cunniff, Liam Kenny and Michael Sardone have proved to be worthy honorees.
“We would not be able to help the over 5,000 families that DDI services if it wasn’t for our tremendous sponsors,” commented Co-Chairman Charley Hudson. “While the list of supporters is long, there are a few people whose efforts cannot go unmentioned including our Grand Marshals. These are six amazing and talented young individuals who deserve to be applauded.”
This years sponsors include The Matt Stansky Memorial Fund; A Friend of DDI; Hansen Home Designs; Tobay Printing; Gallagher Benefit Services; Amagansett Super Saver; Vested Business Brokers; DGM Construction Management; the Kiridly family, Lawrence Worden, Rainis & Bard, P.C.; Apple & Eve LLC; the Crane family; Driscoll Foods; the Prestia family; Yorkshire Foods; Ginny and Bill Kacin; Shore Pharmaceutical; Coca-Cola Refreshments of Hauppauge; Bozzuto’s; Creekstone Farms Premium Angus Beef; Florence Building Supply; Kravet Inc.; Rich Dodge Photography; Magic Vinnie; Family Melody; Panera Bread of Hicksville; Got DJ; S&D Distributors; Broadway Dairy; On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina; Christ Church-Georgetown; the Escaldi family; National Waste Services; Kaufman Enterprises – McDonalds; John Willis Inc.; the Spiegel family; the Brunjes family; and the Hudson family.
DDI is a not-for-profit agency headquartered in Smithtown, NY, with more than 30 locations throughout Suffolk and Nassau Counties. Serving nearly 1,000 children and adults with a diagnosis of an autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), DDI is the largest provider of services for individuals with Autism on Long Island. It provides special educational, vocational, day and residential programs, as well as healthcare services for over 5,000 children and adults with autism or other developmental disabilities. DDI also operates family-centered preschool programs for both children with disabilities as well as typically developing students. DDI was founded in 1961 by a group of parents to address the special educational and therapeutic needs of their children with autism or other developmental disabilities. DDI is a member agency of the United Way of Long Island.
For more information about DDI, visit www.ddiny.org.
