By NANCY HILER
Dorothy Medico, a lifelong Bellmore resident and the owner of Dorothy's School of Dance on Merrick Road, received a 2007 Pathfinder Award in Arts and Entertainment for "sharing her talents as a dancer and her skills as an educator with an extended chorus line of aspiring dance students."
Dr. Wendy Schonfeld and Susan Sachs, co-owners of ABSolutely Fit on Newbridge Road, were presented the Humanitarian Pathfinder Award for "demonstrating compassion to help and commitment to heal."
"The women we are recognizing this year have made profound contributions to our communities and have proven themselves role models and inspirations to us all," Town Supervisor Kate Murray said at the ceremony. "They are all deserving of this honor, and it is an extreme pleasure to have this opportunity to recognize them for their many accomplishments."
In step with the community
"It's overwhelming," Medico said of the award. "I was so surprised and excited. I had to keep listening to my message saying that I won." Medico¹s honor came as no surprise, however, to Joni Caputo, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores, and four parents of dance students, all of whom nominated Medico for the award.
Medico is celebrating her 29th year as owner of the dance studio. She has shared her professional talents with students young and old, in and around the Bellmore community. "She has shared her talents as a dancer and her skills as an educator with an extended chorus line of aspiring dance students," Murray commented.
A leader in the dance community, Medico is a member of Dance Educators of America and the Professional Dance Teachers Association. As an honorary member of "Who's Who Among America's Teachers" and "Who's Who Among Executives and Professionals," Medico was recently acknowledged internationally as well, the Chamber of Commerce reported.
She uses her love of dance as the starting point for creative expression, instilling discipline, inspiring confidence and building self-esteem. She and her students have helped others throughout the community, visiting local senior centers and nursing homes and entertaining at community events.
Medico is also the guiding force behind the highly successful FAITH Project, now in its fifth season, which turns dance classes and performances into fund-raisers, with the proceeds going to the American Lung Association to promote research in and awareness of asthma. FAITH also recently began breast cancer prevention efforts in honor of a dancer who lost her battle with the disease in November, Medico said.
Beyond all this, Medico has been a dynamic force in the Bellmore Chamber of Commerce for nearly two decades, having served as a board member, vice president and co-president. She has also contributed her time and talent to the Bellmore Street Fair, the Toys for Tots Program, the Long Island Film Festival and the Strawberry Festival.
When asked what inspired her to help others, Medico said, "To give back to make it a better place just felt like the natural thing to do." She was quick to add, however, "It's all teamwork. The staff, friends, family, everyone all together gets things done."
Admirable activists
"They say that two hearts are better than one. The phrase is particularly appropriate when applied to the two healthy hearts of Dr. Wendy Schonfeld and Susan Sachs," Murray said as she presented the women their Pathfinder Awards. "Their hearts obviously beat with compassion to help and commitment to heal."
At ABSolutely Fit, the pair aim to encourage, educate and motivate the community on the importance of health, nutrition and wellness. "It's just a great feeling," Schonfeld said about the award. "It's all about giving back, making a difference in people's lives. It makes us feel wonderful that we're at least making a dent in our world, a world of craziness."
Schonfeld, a chiropractor, has spent more than 17 years working with Bellmore-Merrick residents on their overall health and well-being. Sachs, a speech and language pathologist, has focused on those with head injuries and Parkinson's disease. With a shared interest in healing and helping others, the two teamed up five years ago to launch the fitness studio, where they have improved the minds, bodies and spirits of hundreds of women while also keeping busy with many philanthropic efforts.
The humanitarian award seemed fitting, considering the breadth of fund-raising and activism in which the two are involved. They have raised nearly $90,000 to fight breast cancer. Last year alone, their efforts resulted in the donation of more than 400 wigs and prosthetics to Hewlett House, a cancer support organization affiliated with 1 in 9: the Long Island Breast Cancer Action Coalition. They also raised $2,000 for the Guardian Brain Foundation.
Joining forces with the Chamber of Commerce, the two women helped raise more than $4,000 to send sunscreen and skin care products to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the future they plan to work with domestically abused and underprivileged women through the organization Have a Fresh Start. Additionally, working with the Community Wellness Council, they have been instrumental in providing educational programs aimed at keeping children healthy, fit and safe.
"We believe we're all here to help others," Schonfeld said. Particularly in their efforts to aid in the fight against breast cancer, she said, they were moved to act because so many women at the gym, family members and friends as well as Long Island women in general, are affected by it. ³We're surrounded by this,² Schonfeld said. ³It's an epidemic.²
The other Pathfinder award recipients this year are Roslyn D. Goldmacher of Westbury (business), Iris Johnson of Uniondale (community affairs), Dr. Joyce Bisso, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction at Hewlett-Woodmere Schools (education), Althea Williams, practice manager of the Family Medicine Center at South Nassau Communities Hospital in Oceanside (health services), Julie Mastrella of Floral Park (high school senior), Donna Ryan of Levittown (volunteer), and Denise Miller of Franklin Square (Town of Hempstead employee).
"Each of these women is truly extraordinary," said Murray. "They are all deserving of this honor, and it is an extreme pleasure to have this opportunity to recognize them for their many accomplishments."
Comments about this story? NHiler@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 234.
