Long Island Nonprofit Briefs: February 24, 2006
By Henry E. Powderly II
Special exhibitionThe Nassau County Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities and Hofstra University have announced their Art Expressions art exhibition will take place from Feb. 28 to April 27. Art Expressions displays artworks created by people diagnosed with psychiatric illnesses or developmental disabilities. The exhibit will feature original paintings, drawings and sculpture created by local artists who participate in Nassau County’s mental health system. An opening reception will be held on March 24, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. And on April 21, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Art Expressions will present a coffee house-styled concert featuring performances by musicians, poets and comedians with disabilities.For further details, call (516) 463-6812.LICADD launches fundraiserThe Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence announced that it will launch a Campaign to Save Lives to raise $3 million to establish the Alcoholism Training Institute, the Student helping Student Mentoring Program and the Footprints Program for Children. According to LICADD, Long Island is experiencing a major rise in alcoholism and drug abuse and the decline of treatment services, citing that more than 170,000 children on Long Island are living in homes with one or more parents struggling with addiction. LICADD provides community health education, resource information, treatment referrals and family and workplace to those struggling with substance abuse and addiction.For more information or to donate, call (516) 747- 2606.United Way sets auctionUnited Way of Long Island has launched an online auction to raise money for those in need on Long Island. All items auctioned online will be raffled at The 41 Club, United Way’s gala event on March 2 at 5:30 p.m. The event will be held at Carlyle on the Green in Bethpage.Long Islanders can visit www.unitedwayli.cmarket.com now to place bids on items like sports memorabilia and vacation getaway packages. United Way will regularly add new auction items. Online bidding will end on March 1. Bids will then be taken to The 41 Club on March 2 for the silent auction. Absentee bidding is available for those who won’t be at the event. United Way’s The 41 Club night club-themed event is intended to celebrate its 41 years of changing lives on Long Island. Daniel T. McGowan of HIP Health Plans and Ralph Ranghelli of IBEW Local 1049 will be honored at the event. To register for The 41 Club event, visit www.unitedwayli.org or call (631) 940-3721.A big jobHospice Care Network is looking for volunteers in Nassau County to work with patients who are terminally ill. Volunteers are charged with making sure the patient and their loved ones are as comfortable as possible.Hospice volunteers offer compassion and friendship to the patient. Some volunteers offer relief by allowing caregivers a few hours off. Some can spend time with patients reading, writing down patients’ memories or listening to them speak. HCN encourages bilingual or multilingual applicants. For further details, call (516) 224-6416.