Suffolk Chapter Holds Its Most Successful Toys for Tots Drive, Helps Ensure Happy Holidays for Long Island’s Needy Children

By Cynthia Finn

The Young CPAs Committee of the New York State Society of CPAs’ Suffolk Chapter held another tremendously successful Toys for Tots holiday toy drive. Our members and friends went above and beyond and answered the call to support Long Island’s needy children in the wake of this year’s tragic events. The seventh annual event, again coordinated by Cynthia Finn of Sheehan & Co., CPAs, P.C., was the largest to date, surpassing the toy collections of years past. On Dec. 14, 2001, representatives from the U.S. Marine Corps accepted our contribution of more than 2,000 toys.

More than 40 firms and local businesses served as drop-off locations this year, and we were fortunate to once again have the State Bank of Long Island participate. Eleven bank branches and the bank’s main office functioned as collection points. The chapter would like to thank Lori Keller for her help in coordinating the effort with State Bank, as well as Lisa Martinelli, Paul Becht and Harold Deiters, our Young CPAs Committee chairpersons who also helped immensely with this year’s drive.

The Marines expressed their gratitude and admiration for the number of toys collected through the drive, indicating that once again the Suffolk Chapter’s collection was the largest contribution they had received from a single organization on Long Island. All of the hard work paid big dividends. Through the chapter’s involvement, more than 1,000 children were able to experience a happy holiday season.

The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program helps lead the way in looking after America’s needy children during the Christmas holiday, distributing an average of 8,000,000 toys annually. The program brings the joy of the holiday season to more than 4,000,000 economicallydisadvantaged children. Even with our military’s involvement in Afghanistan, the Marines remained committed to the Toys for Tots Program this past year.

Local business leaders also play a key role in the drive through allowing the Marines to position collection receptacles in their stores and offices. From October through December, the businesses also provide free warehouse space for sorting and storing toys; supply vehicles to collect toys from collection sites; sponsor toy-raising events; and help the Marines receive maximum media exposure for Toys for Tots.

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

Albrecht, Viggiano, Zureck & Co., P.C.
Sheehan & Co., CPAs, P.C.
Holtz Rubenstein & Co., LLP
James Preston, CPA
Coughlin, Foundotos, Cullen & Danowski, LLP
BDO Seidman
Peare & Heller, CPAs, P.C.
Grassi & Co., CPAs, P.C.
Flynn & Co.
Robert J. Eckhardt & Co., P.C.
Horowitz, Waldman, Berretta & Maldow, LLP
Community Development Agency
Innovative Planning
Tropicool Tanning Salon
LIRUSA
Lilly & Associates
Owen Petersen & Co.
State Bank of Long Island
Woodhaven Nursing Home
Johnson & Meyer, CPAs, LLP
Cerini & Associates
SITA