With the start of the New Year, Mineola Lions Club has continued its charitable giving to community groups as well as organizations serving disabled individuals. The Club recently donated $1000 to the Special Olympics, New York, Inc., Long Island Region. Matt Smith, a past president of the Mineola Club, has personally raised tens of thousands of dollars for the Special Olympics through the Winsted Connecticut Polar Bear Plunge.

The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-style sports for all children and adults with intellectual disabilities giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of skills and friendship with their families, Special Olympics athletes and the community.

Shown in the photograph from left to right are Lion President Ray Sikorski, Jennifer Cantone – Special Olympics N.Y. Development Specialist, and Diane Colonna – Regional Director.