Tuesday, April 29, 2025
The Kiwanis Club of Long Beach hosted its third annual Women’s History Month Brunch Fundraiser on March 9, celebrating outstanding women in the community while also raising funds for the club’s efforts
“There are so many dynamic women in our community that either are involved in various arts or are very philanthropic or just give back to the community,” Kiwanis President Marianne Raisig said. “We want to honor those people, because they are the thread that runs through this community that always step up when there’s a need.”
The brunch, held at Minnesota’s Bar & Grill, at 959 W. Beech St., saw more than 100 attendees. This year’s honorees are Liz Nachman, Teresa McCarthy and Amy Schwartz Bernabeo.
A successful fashion entrepreneur, Schwartz Bernabeo founded Amyzing Pieces, LLC, creating jewelry and clothing. Known for stepping up in times of crisis, she actively supports local causes and organizations. Previously named Long Beach’s Woman of the Year, she continues to be a symbol of generosity and community service.
McCarthy is a dedicated community leader, serving as the director of community outreach at Maple Family Centers, where she organizes fundraising events. She also works as a children’s librarian at Island Park Public Library. With over a decade of involvement in Girl Scouts, she mentors young girls in leadership and service.
Nachman is a driving force in local philanthropy and business. After Hurricane Sandy, she founded Rebuild the Beach, raising funds for Long Beach schools and the community. As co-owner of Brandable Marketing, she helps local businesses with promotional products and leads charitable initiatives through Kiwanis, Beach Giving and the Long Beach Farmers’ Market.
The money raised at the brunch will help send local children in need to summer camp. The club supports local camps at the Long Beach Recreation Center and the Martin Luther King Center as well as Camp Kiwanis in the Adirondacks.
The city Kiwanis Club has served the community since 1957, focusing on assisting children. Partnering with local schools and social workers, the club has provided everything from school supplies and winter coats to resources for displaced families in need of necessities. It also organizes initiatives like food drives, holiday support programs and even a bike safety rodeo, in collaboration with the Long Beach Police Department.
“We just notice a need and we try to fulfill those needs, trying to make a child’s life just a little better,” Raisig said. “We don’t look at it as a handout, we look at it as a hand up. Sometimes just a small intervention in a child’s life could make a dramatic difference for the rest of their life, like somebody cares, and that’s what we’re about.”
The club works with the Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Centers at Stony Brook University Hospital and Cohen Children’s Hospital, while also participating in programs like cooking meals for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House New York Metro.
Each fall, Kiwanis hosts another key fundraiser, Playing in the Pubs, where local bands volunteer their time for a day of live music. Proceeds from the event help cover the cost of music lessons for children from low-income families who qualify for New York State School Music Association competitions but cannot afford private instruction.
For more information on the organization, visit kiwanisclubLB.org
