Page 3 - 12th Annual Long Island Imagine Awards Program

Thank You Diamond Sponsor Welcome

a world without hope or compassion
a world without food and shelter
a world without arts and culture
a world without innovation and impact
Imagine a world where the nonprofit sector didn’t exist
Welcome!
The nonprofit sector, like all sectors, continues to evolve, with effective leadership,
relevant data, and collaboration remaining essential for its success and growth. Nonprofit
organizations must invest in developing future leaders at all levels, adapting to changing
workforce dynamics. Skills such as empathy, feedback, training, and connection are crucial
for leaders in navigating the sector’s complexity and competitiveness. In our current
climate, marked by challenges such as climate change and social inequality, collaboration
becomes even more crucial. Nonprofit organizations face unprecedented challenges that
require pooling resources, sharing knowledge, and working together towards common goals.
Collaboration enables nonprofits to maximize their impact, avoid duplication of efforts,
and better execute their missions. Moreover, in a world driven by the speed of information,
nonprofits must continually enhance their ability to access and process information to
remain competitive. Strengthening contacts and developing relationships are paramount in
addressing the sector’s myriad of challenges.
Events like this are instrumental in fostering collaboration and strengthening relationships
proud to make a difference within the nonprofit sector. They provide a platform for communication, idea-sharing, and
effective collaboration, ultimately contributing to a more integrated and resilient sector.
Welcome to the 12th Annual Long Island Imagine Awards, a program established to
recognize and celebrate some of the best nonprofits Long Island has to offer, to provide
an avenue for exploration and collaboration, and to allow nonprofits (and the rest of us)
For nearly a century, SterlingRisk has dreamed big, to share ideas and learn from each other. Tonight is an opportunity for us to support and
show our appreciation for those who all year long diligently work to elevate and support
imagined a better world, and made support of all of us. This will be an amazing evening, where 20 of Long Island’s top nonprofit
nonprofits a core value. organizations will be competing in six different categories: Leadership, Innovation, Rising
Star, Arts & Culture, DEIA, and Social Impact, for a chance to win a prestigious Imagine
It’s who we are and why we’re so proud to serve as Award, a $5,000 check, and bragging rights for the year. Regardless of who wins, everyone
Diamond Sponsor of the Long Island Imagine Awards. tonight is a winner. What’s more, we once again have a Diamond Sponsor, SterlingRisk
Insurance, who has made it possible for us to give each of our finalists $1,000!
We congratulate each of the extraordinary finalists Your support of the Imagine Awards is helping to make a difference, so thank you for
and participants. Thank you for touching all our lives. helping us continue to recognize the best of the best of Long Island’s nonprofit community.
I would especially like to thank this year’s Diamond Sponsor SterlingRisk Insurance,
Platinum Sponsors; Bethpage Federal Credit Union, Cerini & Associates, LLP, Certilman
Balin Adler & Hyman, LLP, The Claire Friedlander Family Foundation, Flagstar Private
Bank, Jovia Financial Credit Union, Nerds that Care, and Vanguard Benefits. Consider
supporting them as they support the nonprofit sector. Lastly, I would like to thank the
awards committee and the judges who were so instrumental in making tonight a reality.
Once again, congratulations to this year’s Imagine Awards finalists! Thank you for making
Long Island a better place for all of us.

More information is available at SterlingRisk.com
Kenneth Cerini, CPA, CFP, FABFA
Managing Partner, Cerini & Associates, LLP
WOODBURY, NY NEW YORK, NY WOODBRIDGE, NJ CORAL GABLES, FL WESTPORT, CT 2