The Caroler Fall 2008

The End Bay Shore Christmas Party

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more meaningful Christmas is, of course, spreading a bit of joy and cheer to those less fortunate. On that note, the annual Bay Shore Christmas party provided a wonderful opportunity to make some holiday magic for many underprivileged children in the area. Carlton Brown, JMF President and Principal of Gardiner Manor School in Bay Shore commented on how important it is for these children to feel the spirit of the season and see that people really do care. He also commended Bay Shore’s Emergency Service Committee and all the generous volunteers for their tireless efforts to pull together a magical day. Thanks to volunteers like Patty Cordaro, the kids were Santa “Bill” taking photos with the children able to participate in a fun array of activities and craft projects making for an enjoyable and entertaining day for the entire family. One of Santa’s little elves said it best: “It’s self-rewarding to see the kids having fun. It makes you happy to know you made a child smile.” A big thank you to our Santa Claus, Bill Hickey, who gives each child a gift and sits with them for photos.

Dear Friends, I am new to the board of Jacob Marley, but I am no stranger to the Foundation and all of the wonderful opportunities that it provides to so many. As Christopher Quackenbush’s younger sister, I have been shown (by example) that to help those in need and to do for others what they may not be able to do for themselves is one of the most rewarding experiences in life. I am truly blessed to have been given this opportunity. I hope to pass this desire to help on to the next generation so that Jacob Marley may continue to grow and live on. The look on my teenage son’s face as he made an ornament for a little girl at the Christmas party, and saw the joy it brought to her, was priceless. He hadn’t realized how easy it could be to touch the life of another in a meaningful way. Thanks to all the volunteers and donors who make such things happen. Then there’s the Mets outing—my personal favorite. Let’s Go Mets! We all saw the BIG changes going on in Queens! As we enjoyed our final year at Shea, and although I had a hard time with Citifield when I first saw it this year (almost pushing old Shea out of the way), I have realized, once again, that change is a part of life and it can bring about good. If we can touch even one life and change it for the better, then we have brought about goodness and our own lives truly have meaning.

Gail Quackenbush Directors

Founders Christopher Quackenbush Traci Quackenbush Viklund

President...............................................................Carlton D. Brown Vice President...................................... Traci Quackenbush Viklund Secretary/Treasurer............................................Thomas M. O’Brien Excutive Director........................................................ Diana Holden

James J Dunne III William F. Hickey Michael Quackenbush

Volume 3 • Issue 1 Fall 2008

The Jacob Marley In Memory of Christopher Quackenbush Scholarship

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n Tuesday, November 13th, the New York University Law School held a reception for recipients and donors of NYU scholarships giving all involved a chance to meet one another. It was a wonderful opportunity to witness, firsthand, the lives that the Jacob Marley Foundation and the Christopher Quackenbush Scholarship have touched. Gail Quackenbush, member of the Board of Directors and Diana Holden, Executive Director of the Jacob Marley Foundation, had the pleasure of meeting Jennifer Bindel, Ryan Gee and Leah Morfin, three of this year’s six recipients, and sharing the history of the foundation with them. (Unable to attend were Nicholas Fogg, Kayla Gassmann and Oscar Saunders.) The Jacob Marley Scholarship was established in 1999 as a scholarship which supports economically Chris believed in education and, through the Jacob Marley Foundation, offered people an disadvantaged students who demonstrate a commitment opportunity to change their lives for the better. His legacy and his good will live on … not only to improving the community around them. It is, in part, at NYU Law School, but in the hearts and lives of all the people he has touched, including the six recent recipients of The Jacob Marley In Memory of Christopher Quackenbush Scholarship. a merit-based scholarship and a need-based scholarship and provides a range of tuition support. The evening was a reminder not only of the selfless generosity displayed by Chris Quackenbush when he was alive but of his legacy at NYU Law to this day. Chris graduated NYU Law School in 1982 and was the NYU School of Law Order of the Coif Alumni Honoree in 2001. The Order of the Coif is an Honor Society with membership limited to the top students from a select group of law schools. Only one honorary inductee may be chosen from each class; the primary requirement that they be an exemplary role-model for the graduating class. Chris served on the Board of Trustees at NYU Law beginning in 1997. He was selected for his leadership service to the Law School community, his professional achievements, and commitment to the growth of the institution.

Warm regards, JMF Board Member Gail Quackenbush, Scholarship recipient Lea Morfin, JMF Executive Director Diana Holden and scholarship recipient Ryan Gee.

Scholarships and Grants...

Gail Quackenbush Mark Viklund

To donate or acquire further information: The Jacob Marley Foundation 47 Guilford Road Port Washington, NY 11050 Tel: (516) 767-9235 Fax: (516) 767-9241 [email protected]

In 2002, Chris was posthumously awarded the New York University Arthur T. Vanderbilt Medal, the highest honor awarded by the Law School, “because his presence among us enriched the lives of friends and strangers alike and because he showed us all an example of a life well and richly lived.” In March 2006, Chris’s portrait was dedicated in Furman Hall on the campus of NYU Law School with the following inscription: Chris Quackenbush (‘82), co-founder of Sandler O’Neill, founder of the Jacob Marley Foundation, and a distinguished member of the New York University School of Law Board of Trustees. Mr. Quackenbush was the NYU School of Law Order of the Coif alumni honoree in 2001 and was posthumously awarded the Arthur T. Vanderbilt Medal, the Law School’s highest honor in 2002. A businessman, philanthropist, and beloved alumnus, Chris Quackenbush’s legacy lives on at New York University School of Law.

Tiny Tim’s Corner

Ebenezer’s Good Deeds

Take Me Out To The Ball Game

Jacob Marley and Mercy Haven Open the Door of Possibility for Those Most in Need

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oung and old alike enjoyed the annual outing to Shea Stadium to root for the New York Mets. Over 600 children and adults attended from all over Long Island to see the Mets play the San Fransisco Giants, capping off a fun-filled day. Before the start of the game, everyone enjoyed a delicious buffet of penne, hot dogs, hamburgers, cotton candy and popcorn. This year’s outing took place on July 10th and was the last time the Jacob Marley Foundation would visit Shea Stadium as the 2008 season marked the last year the Mets played at this venerable 40-year old stadium. See you at Citi Field in 2009! Mr. Met visited us in the picnic area before the game!

Project Succeed is Dedicated to Helping Kids Be the Best They Can Be

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roject Succeed is a community work/study program designed to provide career exploration experiences for academically at-risk students in the Manhasset Secondary School. Students are employed in businesses in the Manhasset/Great Neck area that encompass a wide range of careers: law, medicine, communication and business. These career experiences take place after school during the academic year and are supplemented with counseling and communication skills training The students who are currently participating in the program are Princess Wright and Michael Rinaldi who are both working at Shelter Rock Church; Altoria Branch who is being trained at the Manhasset Animal Hospital; Malcolm Turner Shonae, Denise, Nyasia, Kenny and Matt who is employed at Manhasset Sporting Goods; Brittany Goins who is engaged at the law office of Pinzino and Pinzino; Jenetta Randle, Tiana Graham, Ashley Williams, Nyasia Irby and Matthew Izquirdo who are all helping out at Adventures in Learning; and Mirna Arevalo who is learning the art of floral design at Olive Duntley. Best of all, it is at no cost to the employer as annual funding for Project Succeed is provided by a grant from the Jacob Marley Foundation.

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stablished in 1985, Mercy Haven’s mission is to assist Long Island’s most at-risk residents including persons living with mental illness, the elderly, limited income families and persons with special needs. Mercy Haven provides support programs including free legal advocacy, education and employment skills training, community outreach and the administration of the Long Island Resource Center for individuals living with Traumatic Brain Injury. Mercy Haven also provides housing opportunities across Long Island giving many individuals and families a stable, clean and safe environment to call “home.” In the 23 years that Mercy Haven has been of service to communities on Long Island no one has been more faithful in their support than the Jacob Marley Foundation. Besides gifting them with a unique four family home in Bay Shore, the monies that have been donated have heightened the quality of care in their programs.

Alexis Brown, one of the residents in the Bay Shore property, spoke from the heart about what Mercy Haven has meant to her: “My name is Alexis Brown and I live with my grandparents in an apartment owned by Mercy Haven in Bay Shore. I attend South Sr. Pat Griffith and two Mercy Haven residents Country School and am in the 5th grade. I belong to clubs at school like the Spanish Club, band and choir. I am taking dance lessons and I am a Girl Scout and a member of the Bay Shore cheerleaders. I am looking forward to going to the Middle School next year then high school and college. During the past ten years I have gone to different activities given by Mercy Haven. I went to Christmas parties and got gifts from Santa, Halloween parties, picnics,[and] MotherDaughter luncheons .... I really appreciate what my family and Mercy Haven have done for me. Without them I would not have been able to achieve all that I have so far. Thank you!!”

Volunteer Recognition Corner

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he Jacob Marley Foundation would like to give a “shout out” to Jim Dunne, his wife Vivian and their daughter Lauren for helping out at the annual Bay Shore Christmas Party. Jim has been lending a hand for the past 5 years, serving chocolate dipped pretzels to the hungry crowd. We commend Jim and his family for their generous, loving spirit. A special thank you to Sophia Yunakov and Mimi Donohue for their help pulling together The Caroler Newsletter over the past few years.

Vivian and Jim Dunne helping with Christmas crafts