FCA's Fall Harvest Celebration Raises Funds for Essential Services

Family & Children’s Association (FCA), one of Long Island’s oldest and largest nonprofit health and human services organizations, will host its Fall Harvest Celebration Thursday, November 14 at the Heritage Club at Bethpage. Newsday Media Group Senior Lifestyle Host Elisa DiStefano will emcee the celebration. This annual event is FCA’s largest fundraiser of the year. Proceeds provide critical funds that bolster the programs and services that support more than 35,000 Long Islanders annually.

This year’s honoree is Charles ‘Charlie’ Manning, P.E., Executive Vice President at LiRo-Hill Engineers, a Global Infrastructure Solutions Inc. company. With a career spanning 50 years, Charlie has extensive experience in civil infrastructure projects, including transportation, water, wastewater, solid and hazardous waste, resource recovery, and power. He is actively involved in numerous industry organizations and is dedicated to the Long Island community. Charlie lives in Garden City with his wife, Ellen, and they are blessed with three grown children and seven grandchildren.

Thomas “Tommy” Shevlin, President of the Nassau County PBA, will receive the James J. Harnett Humanitarian Award. Inspired by his father, an NYPD Homicide Detective, Tommy embarked on a law enforcement career, joining the NYPD in 1998. He moved to Nassau County’s 3rd precinct in 2005 and was later elected as a PBA delegate.

Throughout his career, Tommy has witnessed the tragedies faced by his fellow officers and dealt with his own personal and professional challenges. Recognizing the importance of seeking help, he requested to be assigned to the Nassau County PD Employee Assistance Office (EAO), where he served as a counselor. In this role, Tommy shared his personal experiences during department-wide trainings, aiming to break the stigma that prevents first responders from seeking assistance.

While there, Tommy co-founded the New York Law Enforcement Assistance Program (NYLEAP) to address the suicide rate among first responders and the lack of appropriate mental health programs. This a peer-led, clinician-assisted program continues to assist officers across the state.

In 2021, Tommy was elected to a four-year term as Nassau County PBA President. As president, he maintains his passion for mental health among police officers and their families, working with local and state-elected officials on police officer policy including safety, officers’ rights, and peer support. Three years into his tenure as PBA President, he is widely respected by union leaders, members, elected officials, and the public alike for his steadfast dedication to the health and safety of his fellow officers.

Receiving the Carol Wessel Humanitarian Award, Kim Cottage is a trailblazer in the recruitment industry and co-founder of the Philanthropy Network of NY. She is passionate about aligning her corporate clients with their philanthropic goals. Kim’s innovative and thoughtful approach to the social impact of businesses has set her apart, making her a key figure in fostering significant partnerships between companies and their philanthropic missions.

“Our largest fundraiser of the year is our greatest opportunity to thank all our donors, supporters, volunteers, friends, and staff,” said Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds, FCA President & CEO. “It’s also a chance for us to celebrate 140 years of this incredible organization. A time to applaud our clients for their resilience in facing challenges and building better lives for themselves and their families – to salute our dedicated staff and volunteers, and to acknowledge the work we have done and continue to do, to make our community an even better place for everyone.”

Attendees of the Harvest Celebration include local government and business leaders, donors, beneficiaries, and friends. All proceeds from the Fall Harvest Celebration will help to enhance FCA’s programs and services for Long Island’s most vulnerable children, families, seniors, and communities. For more information or to purchase tickets, sponsorships, or make a donation, please contact Chief Development Officer & Vice President of Strategic Advancement Paige O’Brien at POBrien@fcali.org or visit www.fcali.org/harvest