One of East Williston’s most famous natives will host one of the United Way of Long Island’s biggest annual fundraisers next month.
Comedian, television writer, Emmy Award winner and Wheatley School graduate Carol Leifer will host the May 11 Live United Celebration Luncheon at Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury.
Leifer was not available for an interview, but in a statement said she is “delighted” to be hosting the fundraiser. It’s expected to draw nearly 900 people and raise nearly $600,000 for the Deer Park-based charity, President and CEO Theresa A. Regnante said.
“Comedy has always been my way of making a person’s day just a bit better, but I am humbled by the inspiring and crucial work of the honorees this year who better the lives of the most vulnerable Long Islanders in their time of greatest need,” Leifer said in the statement.
Leifer is the biggest name to host the event in the six years it’s been held, Regnante said.
A stand-up comedian, writer and actress, Leifer has appeared on and written for television shows such as “Seinfeld” and “Saturday Night Live.” She won four Emmy Awards for her writing on “Seinfeld,” and was reportedly the partial inspiration for Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ character Elaine Benes.
“Certainly we’re thrilled to have a very dynamic personality,” Regnante said. “She’s done so much for a lot of different charitable organizations and what’s great is that she has strong ties to Long Island.”
Leifer has also been active with the Port Washington-based North Shore Animal League. She hosted fundraisers for the organization in 2010 and 2011 and designated it as her beneficiary charity when she was on “The Celebrity Apprentice” in 2009.
The “lion’s share” of proceeds from the Live United Celebration Luncheon will support the United Way’s network of about 100 organizations that support the charity’s mission across Long Island, Regnante said.
Those groups include the Roslyn-based North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, the Mineola-based Island Harvest Food Bank, the Port Washington Children’s Center and Harbor Child Care, which has branches in Mineola, Manhasset and New Hyde Park.
“The money that we raise drills right down to organizations that are on the front lines of any community across Nassau County, in this case, who are helping families,” Regnante said.
The luncheon will also honor organizations and people who have made major contributions to the United Way, including John Durso, president of the Long Island Federation of Labor and the Mineola-based Local 338 of the Retail, Wholesale, Department Store Union and United Food and Commercial Workers.
Durso is this year’s “Live United Volunteer Champion,” and Local 338 is the “Labor Champion,” Regnante said.
The union does a lot to benefit and support veterans and is “woven into the fabric of the community,” Regnante said.
The Live United Celebration Luncheon, sponsored by Bethpage Federal Credit Union, will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 11. Tickets are $150 and are available at unitedwayli.org/2016Luncheon.
