By Andrew Coen
Lawrence native Lee Bienstock has made it to the final two in the hit NBC show, and if he is the winner on June 5, he will land a job working for multi-millionaire Donald Trump. In a departure this season, Trump will not have the only say on who he hires, but rather is seeking input from across the country on who he should choose.
"Everyone should really rally around their hometown boy," said Flora Bienstock, Lee's proud mother.
Fliers are being circulated in schools in the Five Towns and the tri-state area, and a notice about the vote was placed in the Saturday Bulletin at Bienstock's synagogue, Congregation Beth Sholom. The Bienstock family also plans to distribute fliers at the Israeli Day Parade in Manhattan on June 4. Bienstock's alma mater, Cornell University, has also done its part to lobby supporters for the Five Towner.
"There aren't words," said Lee's father, Mark, of the support his son has received during his "Apprentice" experience. "It has been phenomenal."
The finale, which will unfold live in Los Angeles for the first time after previously being set in New York, will feature live cut-ins to Bienstock's hometown of Lawrence, with a gathering planned at the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department at 8:30 p.m. According to the Bienstocks, Lee had the idea to not just make the live finale a party, but also to give back to the community by requesting donations from those who attend, which will go to the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department and all area firefighters.
"It's a nice connection, and brings the community together to have a good time," said Mark Bienstock.
In addition to spreading the word about voting for their son, which an individual can do as many as 20 times, the Bienstocks are also doing their best to educate the public about how to do so, which is by logging onto www.nbc.com/apprentice or connecting to Lee's Web site, www.leebienstock.com, which will have a direct link to the voting. One lucky person who votes will also win $30,000.
"He's done an amazing job, and we are really proud of him and he has made the community very proud," said Mrs. Bienstock. "I'm trying to get the word out wherever I know somebody."
