Planning Underway for 5th Annual Awards Ceremony Honoring Veterans

Members of the Tribute & Honor Foundation Board of Directors with the promotional poster announcing the 5th Annual Awards Ceremony scheduled for February 7, 2026. Pictured (L–R): Lydia Wen Rodgers, Online and Media Content Officer; Harold Bollaci, Vice President; Koorosh Leibowitz, Programming and Events Officer; Gaitley Stevenson-Mathews, President; Thomas Bunger, Treasurer; Mike Gadaleta, Community Engagement Officer; and Angelina Stanco-Stone, Secretary.

With the end of the year approaching, the Tribute & Honor Foundation is encouraging community members, businesses, and organizations to support the Foundation's mission by sponsoring or attending its 5th Annual Awards Ceremony and Fundraising Gala, scheduled for Saturday, February 7, 2026, at the Crescent Beach Club in Bayville. The event has become a highly anticipated tradition, drawing supporters from Glen Cove and across Long Island to celebrate veterans and those who work on their behalf.

Since its founding, the Tribute & Honor Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has worked to celebrate and support veterans, military families, and those who serve. Many in the community have become familiar with the organization through its co-sponsorship of the Glen Cove Salutes Military Tribute Banner Program at Morgan Park, the recent installation of the monument on Vinnie’s Island, and the Ben Farnan Scholarship Program, which awards scholarships to graduating high school seniors entering the United States military. These are just a few of the initiatives the Foundation carries out throughout the year in support of veterans and their families.

This year’s honorees represent a wide range of service, leadership, and impact. Among them are Owen Valance (Impact Award), a U.S. Navy veteran and Glen Cove police officer; Philip Como (Leadership Award), a Marine Corps Vietnam veteran, longtime civic leader, and Commander of James F. Brengel American Legion Post 456 in Sea Cliff; Scott Whitting (Legacy Award), a Vietnam Special Forces veteran and firefighter; and Robert Freeland (Volunteer Award), a Vietnam veteran and Commander of Port Washington’s VFW Post 1819. Additional honorees include Peter Carbone (Community Service Award), a Vietnam veteran with more than five decades of involvement with American Legion Post 1285 in Bayville and a longtime member of Loggia Glen Cove; Long Island Cares Veterans Services (Homefront Award), recognized for providing food security and essential support to veterans and military families; Warrior Ranch Foundation and founder Eileen Shanahan (Awareness & Remembrance Award), honored for equine-assisted programs supporting veterans and first responders; and the late Simone Renaud (Front Runner Award), recognized for her lifelong work preserving remembrance and supporting Allied families following World War II.

The awards ceremony will include dinner, presentations, dancing, and raffles as part of the evening’s tribute. Proceeds will support the Foundation’s ongoing work, including scholarships for students entering military service, veteran mental-health awareness initiatives, and year-round community partnerships.

Corporate and individual sponsorships (which include tickets), as well as standard tickets, may be secured online at TributeAndHonorFoundation.org. Additional ways to support the mission include becoming a Sustaining Member with monthly giving, making a one-time contribution, or exploring legacy giving options as part of estate planning. The Tribute & Honor Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and contributions are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

For more information, visit www.TributeAndHonorFoundation.org.