Easter Seals and J&B Restaurant Partners to Honor Local Miracle Makers and Recipients Press Conference on Friday, Jan 16 at Nassau Community College

Long Island, NY January 17 2004--This past Friday, Easter Seals, an organization providing services to children and adults with disabilities and other special needs, and who also provides support to their families and J&B Restaurant Partners, Inc. (J&B) who operates all Friendly's on Long Island, shined their spotlight on four very special people who are living proof that miracle makers do exist and that miracles can happen…right next door to us.

The organizations hosted a press conference and complimentary luncheon at Noon on Friday, Jan. 16 at Nassau Community College, honoring Council Member Peter F. Vallone Jr. and Alea Mills, Assistant Professor at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, whose commitment and dedication to people with disabilities has enabled individuals overcome their personal challenges. Two special individuals were also honored, a young child Emma Vukelj from the New York League for Early Learning's Clearview Preschool and Lee Weiner who currently works with the New York Families for Autistic Children to help families with disabled children. Emma and Lee were honored for overcoming their personal challenges.

"We are absolutely thrilled that we can honor two very outstanding members of our community who have overcome great personal challenges and obstacles," said Jeremy Christopher Kohomban, Senior Vice President of Easter Seals. "And on top of that, what could be more exciting than to have the opportunity to also honor two other community members who have been instrumental in helping make change and miracles happen for those with disabilities," added Jamie Fahey, J&B's Senior Executive Director of Operations for Friendly's Restaurants and NY State Board Member for Easter Seals.

About the Honorees
Council Member Peter F. Vallone Jr.
Council member Vallone is the Chairman of the Public Safety Committee of the New York City Council. He also serves as a member of the Environmental, Governmental Operations, Oversight and Investigations and Standards and Ethics Committees. In addition to his numerous professional accomplishments, Vallone has devoted countless hours to support of non-profit organizations.

He has organized countless blood drives, anti-graffiti campaigns and bike-a-thons that have benefited the entire community. He has served as a volunteer attorney for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn for more than a decade.
His commitment to education and appreciation of the arts has led him to become a member of the advisory board at the Rebecca Center for Music Therapy, where he uses his musical skills to help autistic children with interactive music.
Easter Seals honored Council Member Vallone for his outstanding support in helping individuals with disabilities.

Emma Vukelj
It's hard to imagine there was ever a time when little 4-1/2 year old preschooler Emma Vukelj wasn't the happy, social little girl that her family, teachers and classmates now know. However, just a few short years ago, Emma struggled socially and developmentally and was unable to interact with her teachers and fellow classmates.

Since then, Emma has made incredible strides as a student at the New York League for Early Learning's Clearview Preschool in Queens, which is part of the YAI/NIPD Network, a system of seven not-for-profit health and human service agencies that provides a range of services to more than 20,000 infants, children and adults with developmental and learning disabilities in the New York metropolitan area, New Jersey and Puerto Rico.

Her progress is miraculous and next year, Emma will attend a mainstream kindergarten class. Emma was honored for her courage and strength in overcoming her disabilities.

Lee Weiner
Twenty-five-year-old Lee Weiner is a college graduate who works for the New York Families for Autistic Children organization by day. At night, Lee attends classes in order to achieve his dream of becoming a substance abuse counselor.

As a child, Lee faced obvious developmental delays. Lee could speak, but it wasn't until he was almost 13 that he was able to initiate and participate in a conversation. He attended public school for several years before transferring to Friends Seminary. From there, Lee went on to attend college.

Along with Emma, Lee was honored for overcoming his disabilities.
   
Alea Mills
Alea Mills is an Assistant Professor at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, a private, non-profit research and educational institution that was established in 1890. Mills is dedicated to studying limb defects in children. Until recently, very little was known about how and why defects occurred. Mills discovered a gene that plays a very important role in the formation of limbs and she is currently exploring why this gene impacts limb development. Her breakthrough research will one day provide physicians with better treatment options.

She was honored for her research and efforts aimed to help children with disabilities in the future. Her colleague, Dr. Bill Keyes accepted the award on her behalf.

Local Area Business Support
All Long Island Friendly's restaurants will support Easter Seals with their annual "Cones for Kids Campaign." From now until February 15th, Friendly's guests who make a donation to Easter Seals may choose either a Kid's Valentine's Day card, redeemable for five free Friendly's Kids Cones, or an adult coupon booklet, with valuable coupons worth over $35. Since 1981, Friendly's and J&B Restaurant Partners has raised more than $20 million for Easter Seals. In addition, J&B, who is also Nassau College's food service operator, donated and catered the complimentary luncheon in support the 2004 Easter Seals program on Jan. 16.

In addition, Dream Nouveau, donated its innovative HopNPop play mat to several of the organizations in attendance at the luncheon including Easter Seals; New York League for Early Learning's (NYL's) Clearview Preschool in Queens and New York Families For Autistic Children. Hop ‘N Pop activity play mats encourage children to use their gross motor skills and increase their physical activity by jumping, all in a fun-filled environment.




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