The Yolo Strong Foundation is celebrating its 10th year with a gala. This Saturday’s Party With a Purpose will celebrate the hard work the members, who are all women, have done to help the medically fragile, and honor Sharon Goodman and Jennifer Simonetti, of Cohen’s Medical Center. It will also be filled with surprises, in the form of money and medical items that will be given to unsuspecting families and representatives of nonprofits to help children with special needs, some of whom are terminally ill.
Yolo, a nonprofit created in 2012, raises money for those who are medically fragile or terminally ill, as well as special-needs children, by holding marathons and obstacle course races. For cofounders Danielle Taylor and Stephanie Dean, both of Oyster Bay, and Jeannine Del Pozzo, of East Norwich, it has fulfilled a lifelong dream to help others. In the past 10 years, other women have joined them, increasing their numbers dramatically.
“In the most organic and grass-roots fashion, Yolo Strong has grown from three Oyster Bay mothers hoping to do good to an army of over 200 dedicated parents making a difference,” Sean Acosta, a benefactor of the foundation, said. “While this organization may be celebrating its 10-year anniversary this year, their many supporters and I will be celebrating the life-changing impact that they make in the lives of children and families each and every day.”
Taylor, Del Pozzo and Dean established the foundation after competing in the Civilian Military Combine in Brooklyn, a grueling obstacle course race and fitness event. They donated the funds from friends and family who supported them to the Morgan Center, in Hicksville, a tuition-free space where preschool-age children undergoing treatments for cancer socialize.
Yolo Strong’s mission is to make a meaningful impact in the lives of children facing life-changing circumstances. Yolo, which stands for “you only live once,” sums up its goals.
The organization raises money through annual activities like races, which in the past have included obstacle courses. Last year, amid the coronavirus pandemic, 13 teams ran or walked a 4 x 4 x 24 — 4 miles every 4 hours for 24 hours.
Participants in Yolo races are usually women, but a year ago, others got involved. There were two children’s teams, and two teams of families. Even Oyster Bay-East Norwich School District Superintendent Francesco Ianni formed a team with some district students. A total of 120 teams from Bayville, Mineola, Oyster Bay and Syosset participated on the weekend of Oct. 22.
Aside from the races, Taylor said, the foundation also receives donations. And two years ago, she found another way to raise funds — by donating a portion of her earnings as a real estate agent.
“Sometimes Yolo pays off mortgages so kids can have a place to live during terrible times,” Taylor said. “So I started talking to real estate agents on Long Island. I had this idea that Team Yolo girls could sell homes and donate proceeds to Yolo.”
She took the real estate test and passed it. Then she signed on to work for Cold Spring Harbor’s Signature Premier Properties, a perfect fit for her mission. “Peter Morris and Kathy Viard go above and beyond philanthropy,” Taylor said of the agencies owners. “They don’t just check the box. Ten of our girls are taking a course now, and will take the test and work for Signature too.”
Taylor, who has been selling homes since April, has sold three, and a portion of what she has made on the sales has gone to the foundation. Her plan is to form a team at Signature and to call it the Yolo Group.
“It will be a philanthropic team to help families and children,” she said. “We will be in the business of selling homes and helping children. I hope this is successful. All I can do is try, but I think as long as we have good intentions and our heart is in the right place, it will work out.”
Viard said she wasn’t surprised when Taylor came to her with the Yolo Group idea. “That’s who Dannie is,” Viard said. “I know how kind and thoughtful she is. Philanthropy is the core of this company. All of our agents have a charity.”
Jen Nola, the social worker at Mill Neck School for the Deaf, said she appreciates everything Yolo does. “I’ve known Dannie for many years, and our children are friends,” Nola said of Taylor. “We were having a conversation about Mill Neck, and she said Yolo would love to help. They donate money earmarked for hearing aids and batteries for the children. I’m so grateful.”
Jaclyn Sussi, a Yolo board member, said that being involved has given her a purpose. “It’s humbled me and restored my faith in humanity,” she said. “I’m teaching my children these values of seeing the importance of giving back and being grateful for your health. It’s given them an idea of why moms do what they do.”
The gala will have many raffle items, like Valentino bags and Stuart Weisman shoes. Thomas Monk, Yolo member Dara Underberg’s brother, secured the donated items.
“I had heard amazing things about Yolo from my sister, and when she asked if I could help, I said sure,” said Monk, who has contacts in the fashion and beauty world and a background in public relations. He drafted a letter and sent it them. “The donation letter had information in it about Yolo, what they do and how it works,” he said. “People I know were drawn to the organization. To me, giving back brings me joy.”
Saturday’s Party With a Purpose will be held at the Mill River Club. For tickets, or to donate to Yolo, go to yolostrong.com.
