Santa’s Little Helpers; CPAs Donate Toys and Time

By Cynthia Finn

The Suffolk Chapter’s Young CPAs Committee’s ninth annual Toys for Tots holiday toy drive was another overwhelming success, thanks to the tremendous generosity demonstrated by all who participated!

On Friday, Dec.12, 2003, representatives from the U.S. Marine Corps were on hand at the office of Sheehan & Company, CPA, PC, to accept our contribution of more than 3,500 toys. Despite the poor economic conditions again this year, our chapter members and friends once again opened their hearts to Long Island’s needy children.

Over 40 firms and local businesses served as drop-off locations this year and we were fortunate to once again to have the participation of State Bank of Long Island. Thirteen bank branches and the bank’s main office were collection points again this year. In addition, First National Bank of Long Island was gracious enough to have 18 of its branches display drop-off boxes for the program. Special thanks to Lisa Martinelli and Lori Keller for all of their assistance in coordinating our efforts with the banks and to Paul Becht and Harold Deiters, our Young CPAs Committee liaison and chairperson, who once again helped immensely with this year’s drive.

The Marines were extremely grateful and duly impressed by the number of toys collected, and indicated that once again our collection was the largest contribution that they had received from a single organization. We should all be extremely proud of this accomplishment! All of our hard work allowed over 1,500 children to experience a happy holiday season.

The U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots Program is the unchallenged leader in looking after America’s needy children at Christmas, distributing an average of 8,000,000 toys annually. Marines bring the joy of Christmas to over 4,000,000 economically disadvantaged children. Local business leaders play a key role by allowing Marines to locate collection receptacles in their stores and offices; by providing free warehouse space during October, November and December for sorting and storing toys; by providing vehicles to collect toys from collection sites; by sponsoring toy-raising events, and by helping Marines receive maximum media exposure for Toys for Tots.

The committee extends its sincere appreciation to the following firms, local businesses and their employees for helping make a difference this holiday season for underprivileged children on Long Island:

Albrecht, Viggiano, Zureck & Company, P.C.
Sheehan & Company, CPA, P.C.
Holtz Rubenstein & Co., LLP
First National Bank of Long Island
Coughlin, Foundotos, Cullen & Danowski, LLP
BDO Seidman, LLP
Town of Islip Community Development Agency
Grassi & Co., CPAs, P.C.
Flynn & Company
Robert J. Eckhardt & Co., P.C.
Horowitz, Waldman, Beretta & Maldow, LLP
Innovative Planning
Quality Payroll
Anchin, Block & Anchin LLP
Primerica Insurance
O’Donnell Schwartz Glanstein & Lilly LLP
Owen Petersen & Co. LLP
State Bank of Long Island
Woodhaven Nursing Home
Johnson & Meyer, CPAs, LLP
Cerini & Associates, LLP
SITA Information Networking
Sal Agostinelli’s Long Island Baseball Academy
Nussbaum Yates & Wolpow, PC
Giambalvo, Kilgannon & Giammarese, CPA, PC
Kelly, Rode & Kelly

Happy holidays and best wishes for a successful busy season!

Cynthia Finn, CPA, is secretary of the Executive Board of the Suffolk Chapter. Cynthia is a manager for Sheehan & Company CPA PC and has organized the Toys for Tots campaign since its inception nine years ago.

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