Adventureland Raises $400,000 For Long Islanders In Need

FARMINGDALE, NY — Adventureland raised $400,000 at the 8th Annual Helping Hands FoundationFriends & Family V.I.P. event.

The foundation has raised more than $2.1 million.

“Adventureland’s Helping Hands Foundation is thrilled to be the catalyst for Long Islanders helping Long Islanders — the support we have received through our annual VIP Night event is incredible,” said Adventureland’s Helping Hands Foundation’s Board President Steve Gentile.

The highlight of the evening was The Vivian and Tony Gentile Scholarship Fund awarding of 13 scholarships of $5,000 each to high school seniors who will be attending college as full-time students on Long Island this fall.

Vivian and Tony Gentile Scholarship Recipients

• Jadyn Hsu is a graduate of Bethpage High School. She will be attending Hofstra University to study Exercise Physiology.
• Emily Ogurick is a graduate of Massapequa High School. She will be attending Molloy University to study Secondary Education.
• Lars Sorensen is a graduate of Long Beach High School. He'll be attending Five Towns College to study Musical Performance and Audio Engineering.

Vivian and Tony Gentile Adventureland Employee Scholarship Recipients

• Ella Simone has been a member of the Adventureland team since 2023. She is a graduate of Seaford High School and attends Molloy University to study Criminal Justice.
• Brianna Gismondi has been a member of the Adventureland team since 2023. She is a graduate of W. Tresper Clarke High School in East Meadow and attends Long Island University Post to study Radiology Technology.
• Jason El-Miniawei has been a member of the Adventureland team since May. He is a graduate of Syosset High School and attends Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education to study medicine.
• Avery Ketcham has been a member of the Adventureland team since 2022. She is a graduate of West Babylon High School and attends SUNY Cortland to study Inclusive Education.
• Morganne Taylor has been a member of the Adventureland team since 2023. She is a graduate of The Academy Charter High School in Hempstead and attends SUNY Old Westbury to study Criminology.

Breakthrough T1D Scholarship Recipient

• Nicholas Derencin is a graduate of Island Trees High School. He will be attending Long Island University to study Business.

The limited-ticket event is a night to not only celebrate what the foundation has accomplished throughout the year, but also to support programs that fulfill a variety of needs throughout the Long Island community.