By Marley Seaman
More than a hundred Nassau and Suffolk eateries, including Ben's Kosher Deli and Restaurant in Baldwin, will give a portion of their proceeds to three breast cancer charities.
The program is called "Great Meal, Great Cause, Great Neighbors," and will benefit the Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline and Support Program, the Maurer Foundation for Breast Health, and CancerCare of Long Island. The participating restaurants purchased thousands of pink Breast Cancer Ribbon Pins at a discount. Every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from Jan. 15 to April 15, the pins will be given to patrons who order entrees with dinner, and $2 from the cost of each entree - the normal price of a ribbon - will split between the charities. Additional corporate sponsorship may cover the cost of the ribbons. Restaurateurs say they are donating the money on behalf of their customers.
"Anything that benefits Long Island in effect benefits me," said Ronnie Dragoon, the owner, founder and CEO of Ben's. "It's all part of being a good corporate citizen."
Dragoon is a past President of the Interfaith Nutrition Network, which operates kitchens in homeless shelters throughout Long Island. He said that the program appealed to him because of his work with the Adelphi hotline. All eight Ben's locations on Long Island are involved.
"Great Meals, Great Cause, Great Neighbors" was created by John King. King is the founder and President of J. Kings Food Service Professionals, the food distributor service that works with all of the participating restaurants. J. Kings also footed the bill for all of the advertising and promotional materials for the fundraiser, including posters, bookmarks, table tents, and rolling billboards.
"We're all aware of the breast cancer situation on Long Island," said King, who worked in Baldwin's Fairview Deli when he was 12 years old. "It's a big sacrifice on the part of the restaurateurs. What they're really doing is making a generous donation."
The beneficiaries of the charity say that so far, they are very pleased with the results.
"I'm very enthusiastic about it," said Karen Loeffler, Director of Marketing and Communications for the Maurer Foundation. At a restaurant she attended, Loeffler added, "It was a very visible promotion... The employees were very knowledgeable about it, they made the atmosphere a lot of fun."
In Baldwin, patrons and employees of Ben's were equally pleased by the eatery's efforts.
"There's a big problem with breast cancer on Long Island," said Holly Sheeger of Freeport, who said she was "happy and surprised" to learn of the program.
"I think it's wonderful," added waitress Elisha Rivera, a Baldwin Senior High School student. "It's a really important cause, and it's important to have the community support it."
