Company Donates $500 to Sponsor Employee’s Daughter Who Has Participated in SONY Competitions
Gershow Recycling team will be “freezin’ for a reason” when they take part in the 4th Annual Town of Brookhaven Polar Plunge on November 23 at noon at Cedar Beach in Mount Sinai. Gershow will also be one of the sponsors at the event.
The Polar Plunge is an annual event that helps raise money for special-needs athletes who take part in Special Olympics New York. Sponsors and community members jump in the Long Island Sound during the cold, winter months to show support for the organization. This year, Gershow is donating $500 to sponsor Lori Sindone, whose father, Louis, is a longtime Gershow employee. Lori has been competing in the Special Olympics for many years.
Gershow Vice President Joe Bertuccio has been raising money towards the Polar Plunge for a few years along with his daughter, Danielle Bertuccio Chasse, a teacher who works with special-needs children. This year, Ms. Bertuccio Chasse — along with her nephews, Ray, Daniel and Chris Colon — will be taking the plunge.
Special Olympics New York is a nonprofit organization that has more than 60,000 athletes training and competing year-round in 22 Olympics-style sports. Athletes and their family members or caregivers are never charged to participate.
“We are very proud to support Special Olympics and the members of the Gershow family who are taking part in this special event,” says Kevin Gershowitz, president of Gershow Recycling. “Our involvement in the Polar Plunge is a great way to support an important cause within the community.”
Pictured: Top row: Daniel Angileri, James Claudio and Mike Barsalona. Center row (holding banner): Dylan Lima and Steven Walis. Bottom row: Jonathan Abrams, Mike Melaniff, Michael Maratta and Ken Phalen.
Gershow Recycling generously donated materials to the Islip High School catapult team so they could make improvements on their catapult, named the “Jack-O-Splatter.”
Gershow supplied the team with much-needed replacement parts such as a steel rod and metal bearings to help launch the pumpkins further and more accurately.
The team won its division at the Last Fling Pumpkin & Football Sling in Warren County, New Jersey on October 19-20 with a distance of 983 feet. On October 26, the team placed third at the annual Pumpkin Fling, which took place at the Suffolk County Farm and Educational Center in Yaphank. The team will then head off to the Punkin Chunkin World Championships on November 1-3 in Bridgeville, Delaware.
In 2009, Gershow donated scrap iron to the team to help them build and reinforce the trailer for the “Jack-O-Splatter.” Since they do not have a budget within the school district, the team relies on donations from local businesses and people in the community.
In addition, Gershow donated hardhats to the team members. The Islip High School Catapult Team thanked Gershow for its ongoing sponsorship and donations.
Charles Keeling (left), Safety Director, Gershow Recycling, poses in front of two of the 25 vehicles provided by Gershow with members of the Montauk Fire Department at the 2013 North American Vehicle Rescue Challenge, which was held at the training grounds of the Hagerman Fire Department on September 13-14.
Gershow Recycling donated the use of 25 vehicles that were used in the 2013 North American Vehicle Rescue Challenge, which took place on the training grounds of the Hagerman Fire Department in East Patchogue on September 13-14.
Fifteen teams from Long Island, upstate New York, Illinois, Canada, and Sweden took part in the two-day competition. The top five overall winners were:
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada *
West Coast Rescue Team, Skaraborg, Sweden
Burlington, Ontario, Canada *
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada *
Montauk Fire Department
* Indicates Overall North American Regional Winners
Each team participated in three challenge pits: Limited Pit (where only hand and pneumatic tools are used), Unlimited Pit and Rapid Pit (in both pits, all rescue tools are available, including heavy hydraulic rescue equipment). Those who competed in the Limited and Unlimited Pit had 20 minutes to extricate a “victim” from a “crash,” while Rapid Pit participants only had 10 minutes to safely perform the extrication. All teams were judged based on the command structure, hazard and scene control, patient and rescuer safety and techniques used to disentangle the patient.
Pictured (left to right): Jonathan Abrams, Robert Calarco, Pastor Jerry Bonfiglio, Gail Shafer, and Paul Bressler.
Gershow Recycling sponsored and donated $2,000 to help defray the costs of putting on the fifth annual Play for Peace/Jugando Por La Paz Soccer Tournament, which was held August 10 at the Patchogue-Medford Youth Soccer Complex in Medford.
Approximately 500 spectators came to this free event. Twelve teams — eight men’s teams and four women’s teams — participated in the tournament. In the men’s division, PBA was the Division 1 Winner. PMCT (also known as the North Bellport Athletic Association Blasters) won Division 2, then went on to defeat PBA in the championship match. The winner in the Women’s Division was Port Jeff Sporting Goods.
The goals of Play For Peace were to bring together diverse nationalities within the community for a full day of World Cup-style soccer and to use sports as a way for people from different ethnic backgrounds to find common ground. This year’s tournament was organized by the office of Suffolk County Legislator Robert Calarco.
“Gershow Recycling is pleased again to support this year’s ‘Play for Peace.’ We salute former Legislator Eddington for establishing this event and Legislator Calarco for continuing it, as an effort to bring members of our diverse communities together and build understanding through sports,” said Gershow President Kevin Gershowitz.
Pictured (left to right): Ken Donin; Joseph Scannell, Laura Curran, Dave Denenberg, Jonathan Abrams, Steven Rossetti, Lisa Daniels and Kevan Abrahams.
In support of the local community, Gershow Recycling recently sponsored and participated in the 30th annual National Night Out event on August 6 at Cow Meadow Park in Freeport. Those who came by Gershow’s table learned how to recycle their unwanted scrap metal. They also received literature on the company, recyclable shopping bags, hats and magnetic key chains.
National Night Out is a unique crime and drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch. It is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; generate support for and participation in local anti-crime programs; strengthen neighborhood spirit and police/community partnerships; and send a message to the criminals, letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
For the ninth year in a row, Gershow Recycling has provided scholarships to graduating seniors from the Brookhaven area. This year’s recipients were Kelsey Carter of Bellport High School, Tyler Carfora of Longwood High School and Shannon Fisher of Patchogue-Medford High School.
This year, Gershow decided to expand the program to local high schools located near their facilities. Scholarship recipients who have benefited from the expanded program so far include Marisa Christie of Bay Shore High School, Julianne Bozzo of Lindenhurst High School, Juliann Marie Schneider of Walt Whitman High School, Litao Zhao of Herricks High School and Gurkirat Singh of Valley Stream Central High School.
As a leading environmental recycling company, Gershow awards the competitive scholarship to graduating seniors pursuing a degree in either environmental science or engineering.
Tanya Pottinger and Kelsey Carter.Tyler Carfora and Tanya Pottinger.Shannon Fisher and Tanya Pottinger.Jason Baron, Gurkirat Singh and Peter O’Donovan.DJ Chasse, Julianne Bozzo and Charlie Cobb.John Conroy and Litao Zhao.Jonathan Abrams and Marisa Christie.Juliann Marie Schneider and Rich D’Angelo.
Pictured (back row, left to right): Tom Ferb, Brian Becker, and Paul Felice. Pictured (middle row, l-r): Marvin Matios, Lou Giordano, Charlie Baker, Jonathan Abrams (holding check), Peter Feehan, Vito LaMonica (holding check), Chris Bergman, Dan King, Hal Kramer, Sammy Stahlman, and Alex Bergman. Kneeling (l-r): Zeyad El-Gawish, Alyssa Bergman, Leann Isabelle, Amanda Droll, Caroline Isabella, Sandi Rubi and Jesus Cruz.
The Patchogue Lions Club held its thirteenth annual “Christmas in June” event on June 20 at Boomer’s Family Fun Center in Medford. For the eighth consecutive year, as part of its ongoing community service, Gershow Recycling sponsored the event by donating $2,500.
Approximately 140 school children from seven elementary schools in the Patchogue-Medford School District were chosen to participate in this year’s event by their respective principals. Since the Patchogue Lions Club has started “Christmas in June,” more than 1,500 children have participated in this fun-filled event.
“This was a nice way to give these children an opportunity to have some fun and spend the day with their friends,” said Event Chairman Vito LaMonica, who is also Past President of the Patchogue Lions Club. “It gave the children a place to enjoy themselves, especially with the school year drawing to a close.”
Children were treated to lunch and then given full access for several hours to attractions, including rides, go-carts, wall climbing, bumper boats, and arcade games. They also received baseball caps, courtesy of Gershow.
We were very happy in joining with the Patchogue Lions Club to make this day possible for these children,” said Gershow Manager Jonathan Abrams. “They always have a great time here. With the summer season beginning, the timing couldn’t be better.”
Gershow Matches $673 Raised by Students in Fight against Childhood Cancer
Company Was Inspired by Students’ Dedication and Efforts and Growing Participation in Program
Pictured (left to right): Maria Marks, Cara J. Giannillo, Debra Giugliano, Dr. Robert Parker, Jonathan Abrams, Dan Panico; and Bill Doyle.
Gershow Recycling announced it has pledged to match the $673 raised by students at William Floyd School District’s elementary schools, Kreamer Street Elementary School in Bellport, Holy Angels Regional School in Patchogue and Our Lady of Mercy Regional School in Cutchogue as part of “Can Tabs for Kids,” a program designed to raise funds for the fight against childhood cancer. The money will go to benefit the Sunrise Fund at Stony Brook University Medical Center, an organization that raises awareness and funds for specific projects to assist families. Gershow Manager Jonathan Abrams presented the check during a special assembly at William Floyd Elementary School that took place on June 6.
As part of the Can Tabs for Kids program, students brought in aluminum tabs from soft drink and pet food cans that their parents purchased and placed them in collection bins located in their classrooms. Each week, the bags were taken out of the bins and brought to Gershow, where the contents were weighed and recycled. Gershow received approximately 2 million tabs from the students, weighing a total of 1,234 pounds and worth $673.
The idea for the program was inspired by Maria Marks, a William Floyd Elementary School student who was diagnosed with cancer at a young age. Between the ages of two weeks and six months, she underwent numerous chemotherapy sessions. The constant exposure to the radiation resulted in Maria losing her hearing in both ears and now she must wear hearing aids. Her cancer has since been in remission.
The program has since expanded, with participating schools including Kreamer Street Elementary School in Bellport, John S. Hobart Elementary School, Nathaniel Woodhull Elementary School, Holy Angels Regional School in Patchogue, and Our Lady of Mercy School in Cutchogue, as well as St. Jude Parish Outreach in Mastic Beach. It has also been brought to the Towns of Brookhaven, Smithtown and Islip.
The Sunrise Fund was established to raise awareness about childhood cancer and the special needs of such children throughout local communities. The money used by The Sunrise Fund sustains cutting-edge research and family programs such as support groups, a School Re-Entry Program and many others. Since the establishment of this program, more than $4,500 has been raised.
According to the American Childhood Cancer Organization, approximately 13,000 children in the United States under the age of 21 are diagnosed with cancer, and one in four die as a result of the disease.
“Gershow Recycling is proud to have been part of Can Tabs for Kids,” Mr. Abrams said. “The children surpassed all expectations in their participation in this wonderful program and providing support to their fellow classmate. We are also glad to have seen this program expand throughout the William Floyd School District, the Towns of Brookhaven, Smithtown and Islip and other schools as well.”
“We would like to thank Gershow Recycling for their generous support,” said Keith Fasciana, principal of William Floyd Elementary School. “I am also very proud of Maria Marks, the students who participated in this program and their families, for all their hard work and dedication in collecting over 2 million can tabs.”
(Medford, New York) — Pictured are Jonathan Abrams (left), Manager, Gershow Recycling, and Patchogue-Medford High School student Brittany Zeo (right). Ms. Zeo was recently awarded a one-time $1,000 scholarship from Gershow Recycling. This year marks Gershow’s eighth year of providing scholarships to graduating seniors from the Brookhaven area. As a leading environmental recycling company, Gershow awards the competitive scholarship to graduating seniors pursuing a degree in environmental science or engineering.
Gershow has eight locations in Brooklyn, New Hyde Park, Valley Stream, Freeport, Lindenhurst, Huntington Station, Bay Shore and Medford. For more information, call (631) 289-6188 or visit www.gershow.com.
(Middle Island, New York) — Pictured are Tanya Pottinger (right), Human Resources Generalist, Gershow Recycling, and Longwood High School student Nolan Amon (left). Mr. Amon was recently awarded a one-time $1,000 scholarship from Gershow Recycling. This year marks Gershow’s eighth year of providing scholarships to graduating seniors from the Brookhaven area. As a leading environmental recycling company, Gershow awards the competitive scholarship to graduating seniors pursuing environmental science or engineering.
Gershow has eight locations in Brooklyn, New Hyde Park, Valley Stream, Freeport, Lindenhurst, Huntington Station, Bay Shore and Medford. For more information, call (631) 289-6188 or visit www.gershow.com.
