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V.S. 13 receives grant to fund adaptive sports lion students in U.S. public schools receive special-education services for disabilities, Valley Stream School Dis- but participation in sports trict 13 has received a $25,000 remains disproportionately low because of resource grant from Bridgelimitations, accordstone to create adaptive-sports opportuing to Bridgestone. nities for students District 13 serves with disabilities, 388 students with making it one of disabilities, reprejust eight school dissenting 20 percent tricts and nonprofit of its K-6 enrollp a r t n e r s n at i o n ment, according to wide selected in the Gary Gentles, assistire company’s sectant superintendent ond round of adapfor business and tive-sports funding. operations. The grant is part “Bridgestone was o f B r i d g e s t o n e ’s looking for districts Adaptive Sports in ready to close a real Schools initiative, g ap, and we had which provides one: No dedicated $200,000 in total adaptive-athletics funding through the GARY GENTLES programming Bridgestone Ameri- Assistant despite one in five c a s T r u s t F u n d . superintendent of our students Each of the eight for business and being a student with recipients received a disability,” Genoperations, $25,000. The latest tles said. “Being one Valley Stream grants bring Bridgeof only eight recipis t o n e ’s t wo - ye a r District 13 e n t s n at i o n w i d e, investment in the and the only one in initiative to $400,000. New York state, tells me our The program is intended to application made that case address the limited athletic clearly. For the district, this recopportunities for students with ognition means we can keep disabilities. More than 7 milCoNtiNueD oN page 8
By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLO
azingariello@liherald.com
T
Mike Monahan/Herald
Shawuna Bednar and Kimberly Robinson, left, representatives of the Nassau County Department of Health’s Division of Community Health, gave information to attendees.
Elite Scholarship Foundation hosts annual community fair By JANE BAGATTA Herald Intern
Local residents from throughout Long Island gathered on the grounds of Forest Road Elementary School last Saturday for the Elite Scholarship Foundation’s annual community fair featuring an afternoon of fun, community outreach, scholarships and support for the foundation. The Elite Scholarship Foundation is a Valley Stream-based nonprofit organization specializing in helping students with their higher education journey, offering financial help, career guidance and mentorship. With the help of sponsors and partners, the foundation helps deserving students. “I’m so appreciative and blessed for the support of all these awesome organizations that chose to partner with us and make a dif-
ference in the community and provide resources to the community,” Paula Mills, CEO and president of the foundation, said. Many of the supporters, local community organizations and small businesses, took part the fair which was themed to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, particularly the contributions of Black and Indigenous people throughout the country’s history. Young small business owner Samara St. Preux, 14, who makes and sells candles, wax melts, room sprays, lotions and diffusers, enjoys being a member of the Black business community on Long Island. “I love it,” St. Preux said. “I like to see more Black businesses come into the space, more small businesses just in general. It’s just so strong and it feels like family.” The participating organizations included CoNtiNueD oN page 10
his recognition means we can keep closing equity gaps for our students rather than just naming them in a planning document.