Lynbrook Chamber Donates $5,500 to Various Community Groups

The Lynbrook Chamber of Commerce has always been known as an organization that gives back to its community.

And at last Monday's village board meeting, Chamber officials gave back in the form of $5,500, to be donated to various groups within the Lynbrook community.

Chamber president Bill Gaylor announced $3,000 for the village's 9/11 memorial, which will soon include two pieces of ; $500 for this Saturday's event; $1,000 for Lynbrook's Patriots Weekend; and $500 for a third $500 Chamber scholarship, to be given annually to a high school student exemplifying perseverance in his/her community. (The Chamber already gives out two $500 scholarships each year).

The Chamber regularly makes financial contributions to recurring events in Lynbrook, but Gaylor said he knew the Chamber needed to do its part for the 9/11 memorial, as it did when the Vietnam Moving Wall came to Greis Park last year.

"They become one-time very special events in our community and they need to be funded," he said. "And the village can't do it alone."

Gaylor also wished to thank his team of executive directors, including — but not only — Kathy Johannsen (Atria Tanglewood), Denise Rogers (Astoria Bank), Stephen Wangel (The Kitchen Loft) and Carol Burak.

"They worked hard to make it happen," he added. "You can't do it without people like that and if people don't come out and support these things."

The money was raised through community events hosted and sponsored by the Lynbrook Chamber. They include the "Mayor's Centennial Golf Outing," held May 2, and "," held the next evening.

Deputy Mayor Alan Beach, a former New York City firefighter who lost over 50 friends on 9/11, was visibly emotional as he accepted the $3,000 check.

"Most people know how much this means to me and to the rest of the board," he said. "Lynbrook is truly a family, and it is wonderful."

Gaylor said the Chamber will always help out the Lynbrook community when it can, but that it also needs the support of residents to continue doing so.

"When people support the [Lynbrook] business district by shopping locally," he said, "then we're in a position to give back to the churches and other organizations."