(Long Island, NY) More than 250 guests recently attended Ward Melville Heritage Organization’s Annual “Jewels & Jeans” benefit dinner at Flowerfield in St. James, honoring individuals with outstanding achievements, service to their community and generosity to Long Island.
Honorees:
Douglas C. Manditch, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Founder of Empire National Bank. Besides his career in banking Doug Manditch has served in leadership roles for over 12 organizations. He has been a long time supporter of WMHO and has sponsored the organization’s “Running Scared, Running Free” Theatrical performances for the past 5 years. This generosity has allowed underserved schools to see and learn about Long Island’s Underground Railroad.
Dr. Yusuf Hannun, Director of the Stony Brook Cancer Center/The Joel Kenney Professor of Medicine. Dr. Hannun is an internationally known researcher and his contributions have opened up a new field of investigation in many areas of cancer.
Dr. Lina Obeid, Physician-Scientist and Biomedical Researcher/ Dean for Research and Professor of Medicine, Stony Brook School of Medicine. For many years Drs. Hannun and Obeid have supported WMHO’s Annual Walk for Beauty raising funds for breast cancer research.
James Wicks, Esq., Partner with Farrell Fritz, P.C. Jim is a commercial litigator who represents large and small businesses, financial institutions and individuals. His classroom experience as Adjunct Professor of Law has kept him connected to the field of academics and his contributions to WMHO include mentoring their Youth Corps students.
