2015 is banner year for Tommy Brull foundation

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It seems like 2015 is a banner year for the Tommy Brull Foundation.

The foundation is named after the late Rockville Centre resident, who died in an accident on the Williamsburg Bridge in 1999. Tommy’s brother, Martin, started the charity to remind people about Tommy, who was a counselor at Camp ANCHOR.

The Tommy Brull Foundation has spent years holding fundraisers and then giving back to other groups and charities, all of which benefit people with mental and physical disabilities. One of the biggest programs the charity runs is an annual surf camp for kids with disabilities at Camp ANCHOR.

But 2015 has seen many great steps for the foundation. Last month, the Town of Hempstead dedicated the gymnasium at Camp ANCHOR to Tommy. And the Rockville Centre St. Patrick’s Parade has chosen the foundation as its local charity for the 2016 parade.

Late last month, the foundation held its first of two Shine A Light concerts for the year, raising around $15,000. The funds go to many different causes: there’s the six-week Tommy Brull Foundation Surf Camp at Camp ANCHOR, which gave 300 disabled children the chance to surf over the summer; the RVC Challenger League; the Centre Stage drama program; the Backyard Players, for children who graduate from South Side High School and still want to perform; Connor and Friends at the RVC Rec Centre; the Windham Adaptive Ski Program; and to help modify the home Michael Rehak, a man from Oceanside diagnosed with progressive Multiple Sclerosis.

To help further the cause, the Tommy Brull Foundation is hosting its annual benefit this Saturday, Nov. 14 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Cannon’s Blackthorn, at 49 N. Village Ave. There is a suggested donation of $30 at the door, and food and drinks are provided. There’s a Chinese auction, raffles, a 50/50 and more. After the official event is over, there’s an afterparty, where local band The Dippers will be playing.

The foundation will also be hosting its second Shine A Light Festival of the year on Dec. 10. Strand of Oaks and Reigning Sound will be playing.