Adventureland's Helping Hands Foundation To Hold Farmingdale Fundraiser

FARMINGDALE, NY — Adventureland's annual VIP night is scheduled for 6 to 10 p.m. Sept. 6. The fundraiser raises money for the park's charity, Adventureland’s Helping Hands Foundation.

Long Islanders will have the opportunity for a night of family fun.

The not-for-profit organization was established in 2013 by the Gentile family who own and operate Adventureland. The annual event raises funds to support the foundation and its many community-based charitable activities while providing families with unlimited rides, unlimited food, unlimited fun and unlimited entertainment.

Individual tickets for VIP Night are $175. Corporate packages of 15 or 30 tickets are also available.

"Our VIP Night is a perfect opportunity for businesses to reward employees and their families at Long Island’s historic amusement park while supporting and celebrating the work of the Adventureland’s Helping Hands Foundation," said Steve Gentile, president of Adventureland, in a news release.

This year the Helping Hands Foundation will award 12 Vivian and Tony Gentile Scholarships of $5K each to Long Island high school students to be presented at the VIP Night. Five scholarships are for students who will attend college on Long Island and five are for Adventureland employees currently in college. Three additional scholarships are provided in coordination with the Sachem Dental Group, Island Harvest and Breakthrough T1D (formally JDRF).

The foundation has provided more than $330K in scholarships since its inception.

At VIP Night, Adventureland’s Helping Hands Foundation will also be presenting Nassau Suffolk Services for Autism (NSSA) with a $50K pledge to support "all the incredible work they did to provide support and programming to families in the autism community."

Adventureland’s Helping Hands Foundation also makes annual donations to Island Harvest and the Town of Babylon Food Pantry; the Town of Babylon’s Christmas Angels Program; the Town of Oyster Bay’s Toys for Tots Drive; and conducts a school supply drive supporting Long Island Teachers.

"Adventureland is part of Long Island’s history, our legacy is making family memories for generations of our fellow Long Islanders and we are proud to give back to the community through the work of our Adventureland’s Helping Hands Foundation," said Gentile.

Gentile said the organization has provided over $1 million in donations and scholarships since its founding 11 years ago.