Huntington's Blue Line Deli Raffling Islanders Memorabilia For The Chloe Belle Foundation

HUNTINGTON, NY — A Huntington deli owner and Northport charity founder are teaming up in memory of their loved ones who fought cancer to raffle off hockey memorabilia, all to help children and young adults fighting the disease.

Blue Line Deli, a hockey-themed deli founded by New York Islanders fan Donald Rosner, will be giving away signed hockey cards, jerseys, hats, hoodies and other gifts. The Islanders team itself plans to give items away for the raffle, according to Rosner. All proceeds will benefit The Chloe Belle Foundation, a charity that brings joy to children and young adults fighting cancer.

The foundation was founded in memory of Chloe Lindberg, a Northport resident who was only 26 when she died of acute myeloid leukemia in January 2021. She fought the cancer for 13 months after she was diagnosed at age 25.

• Click here to learn more about The Chloe Belle Foundation through a Q&A.
• Click here if you would like to donate to The Chloe Belle Foundation.

Raffle tickets are $20 each, and those who spend $100 get a sixth ticket for free. People can either go to the deli, at 719 W. Jericho Turnpike, Huntington, or message Rosner on social media to buy tickets. His Instagram is @BlueLineDeli, while his X is @BlueLineDeli719.

Rosner plans to do the raffle drawing live in a few weeks with the Islanders podcast Hockey Night in New York.

While The Chloe Belle Foundation was founded by Remi Lindberg and her family in Chloe's memory, Rosner teamed up with the charity in memory of his mother, LeeAnn Rosner, who died of uterine cancer that spread to her lungs and brain.

Rosner was drawn to The Chloe Belle Foundation because it supports young adults and children fighting cancer, as well as being there for families who lose a loved one to the disease.

Rosner said he did not know much about cancer and just how many people it affects before his mom got sick.

"There are people who have gone through that exact situation," Rosner told Patch. "In their experience, they got help and then they turned that into helping others. That’s what The Chloe Belle Foundation does. They’ve been through it, so they know exactly how awful it is and how hard it is. That’s what made me want to work with them. I know firsthand what it’s like to lose someone you love more than anything. When [Remi] went through that, she had people who came out of nowhere and helped her. It hit home for her. It made her really happy. Despite all the sh-- she went through and how much she was hurting, it was a bright spot. That’s what The Chloe Belle Foundation does. They bring light to a really dark situation and just seeing what my mom went through and knowing we’re going to do that for other people who are unfortunately going through this kind of thing, it was a no brainer for me."

Remi said Rosner choosing The Chloe Belle Foundation "means absolutely everything."

"We exist and continue our mission because of all the wonderful people who choose to support us," she said. "There are so many incredible nonprofits with inspiring missions and when someone chooses us to not only support but also associate with us in their business (which is so important to them) ... it truly means more than words can express. They are introducing us to their customer/client base who they love and care about and bringing us into their world. I know that is not just a flippant decision to make. It has to be a mission they care about and foundation who they trust and want to promote. And so, it means so much to be chosen by Blue Line. Especially considering the people who make up Blue Line are such special, kind, and amazing people; it makes us feel good. It feels special that they feel we are worthy of being chosen. I know they are also doing SO much work on their end to support us. I can't help but feel overwhelmed with gratitude."

Rosner plans to hold the raffle for at least two weeks so he can maximize it and promote it. If tickets are still selling well, he plans to extend it to a third week. Other companies have reached out to donate gift cards, and an author plans to donate a couple of signed copies of her book, Rosner said.

Social media can be a "gutter" in many ways, he said, but making people aware of the cause is something good to come from it.

"You get to connect with the most amazing people who want to help, but they don’t have a way to help," he said. "I’ve helped others and others have helped me. It’s amazing how many people come out of nowhere and want to offer their services, help and get involved and do something good for others."

Remi asked Rosner to share a message about LeeAnn for a post she made on the foundation's Instagram. LeeAnn, he said, was the reason he opened Blue Line Deli. She created treats to sell at the deli — her favorite was her "chocolatey popcorn drizzle." She was an animal lover, and Pink Floyd was her favorite band. She did not let cancer beat her, Rosner said — she remained positive and smiling.

"I wish I had her strength," Rosner wrote. "She was truly the most amazing mom, amazing person, and she was my best friend."

Rosner said typing out everything meant reliving his mother's cancer diagnosis, which feels "excruciating," but he wanted to do the raffle to help others going through what he did.

"It means the world to me now to be able to honor my mother and try to help someone else who’s going through this," he said. "In those moments, there is no good. There’s nothing that can really help. Even though it’s an awful situation for my mom, it kind of put the cancer stuff in the background a little bit and put the goodness of others in the foreground. That’s what we’re trying to do for others."

Rosner said giving back to the community is a special feeling.

He has helped other charities and aided customers through the coronavirus by selling essential items at cost value. He also delivered hot egg sandwiches and other food to front-line health care workers when the outbreak was at its worst and hospital staff were at their busiest.

"I opened a deli not having any clue what was going to come of it," he said. "We were fortunate enough to help a lot of people from the time we opened until now. It’s probably been my favorite thing in my life I’ve ever done; learning about charities and these kinds of situations. I’m grateful to have the chance to team up with such amazing people like The Chloe Belle Foundation and Remi. We appreciate the people who support these endeavors. This one is special because my mom is involved, and I miss her."

Remi said she cherishes every partnership and collaboration. Vico, an Italian restaurant in Farmingdale, raised $1,250 for The Chloe Belle Foundation in December.

"They are all so special to us," Remi said. "I deeply love every person and business that we have collaborated with. Because of them, we were able to do so much. I feel that everything I do with TCBF is one big honor for Chloe. But this partnership is special, exciting and heartwarming because we get to do it in honor of someone who is so beloved by the business we are collaborating with. There is extra passion behind it. Because we both have felt a similar loss, we both believe in the mission so strongly. I think everyone who supports us believes in the mission but when you have directly experienced it, you know how much those donations are intrinsically worth. LeeAnn and Chloe were both special people, so, yes, it is extra special."

Remi said she loves everyone who has participated in the raffle so far and everyone who will.

"Everything we get to do to help people is because of you. Thank you so much for trusting and choosing us. I'm so grateful to have connected with Donnie and his family and to have learned about LeeAnn. I know LeeAnn was such a beautiful person. I thank the Rosner family for allowing us to honor LeeAnn."