A dynamic mix of key community advocates are joining forces on April 2, 2017 in a benevolent effort to support local causes in the nation’s most diverse borough. Long Island-based Vanguard Insurance Agency is teaming up with Queens baseball celebrity, Mr. Met, to help raise awareness and funds for deserving charities at the Generosity Queens 5K Run/Walk in iconic Flushing Meadows Corona Park. As part of its ongoing initiatives to give back to the NY area it serves, Vanguard, a leader in customized Employee Benefits Solutions for businesses and non-profits in the tri-state area, is sponsoring two non-profit organizations – WellLife Network and Queens Community House (QCH). Vanguard has partnered with these two groups because of their wide-reaching, invaluable services benefiting the people and communities of Queens and Long Island.
Being raised in Queens and with offices in Long Island, the founders of Vanguard Insurance Agency have strong ties to both communities and are continuously seeking opportunities to give back. When they learned that the Generosity Series, a host of fundraising events for non-profits, had joined with the Queens Chamber of Commerce to bring an event to the Queens area, the agency jumped on board.
“As a NY benefits company servicing many non-profit organizations, we care about our community, and are proud to announce our sponsorship of WellLife Network and Queens Community House in the Generosity Queens 5k Walk/Run,” says Ed Probst, President of Vanguard Insurance Agency. “We support fundraising events for non-profits because they provide an important opportunity to raise awareness and funds for a worthy cause, while also building relationships that will make a positive impact on our community.”
WellLife is a non-profit dedicated to the wellness of New Yorkers faced with developmental disabilities, mental health challenges and addiction. Its mission is to meet the diverse needs of New York communities, business and society, and to assist those they serve to achieve greater personal and economic independence.
“We’re thrilled that Vanguard is committed to assisting WellLife Network. We’re confident that their efforts will help draw attention to our work, so that we can continue to make a difference in the lives of the people we serve,” says Sherry Tucker, President of WellLife Network.
QCH serves residents of all ages, races and ethnicities while supporting the viability of Queens as a whole. The organization offers its neighbors opportunities to change their lives for the better through innovative programs and to become active participants and leaders in their larger communities. QCH strives to make Queens communities strong, inclusive, and models of civic life.
“We are committed to listening and understanding the emerging needs and challenges of the diverse groups that comprise our borough and translating those challenges into programs that engage, empower, and create a sense of inclusion and purpose,” says Ben Thomases, Executive Director of Queens Community House. “We’re grateful that Vanguard cares about our cause and is helping us achieve our goals.”
Additional non-profits, such as the Queens Chamber of Commerce, will also be participating in Generosity Queens. According to its Executive Director, Thomas J. Grech, “The Queens Chamber of Commerce is delighted to be able to be a part of an important cause and is especially excited because all participants are Queens Chamber Members.”
Sign in for the event in Flushing Meadows Corona Park begins at 7:30 a.m., and the run/walk starts at 9:00 a.m. Don’t miss your chance to meet the iconic Queens mascot, Mr. Met, who will be helping to drive participation and inspire support. The goal this year is to raise more than $50,000 to benefit the various charities involved. To register, visit https://www.generosityseries.com/events/generosity-queens-5k-run-walk-flushing-meadows-corona-park/.
For more information about Vanguard Insurance Agency, visit http://vgdny.com/, or follow @vgdny on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
About Vanguard Insurance Agency
Vanguard Insurance Agency is a leader in customized Employee Benefits Solutions for both small and large businesses, including non-profit organizations, within the tri-state area. At Vanguard Insurance Agency our goal is to assess the needs of each business and design a customized benefit package that will increase employee satisfaction. We are committed to making the company’s experience with employee benefits an effortless and pleasurable one. Our process simplifies insurance so employees can improve their health & wellness by evaluating plan options and creating strategies that control costs. Visit http://vgdny.com/ for more information.
About WellLife Network
Since 1980, WellLife Network, formerly PSCH (Professional Service Center for the Handicapped, Inc.), has been meeting the growing challenges of individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities and mental illness in NYC. Today, with a workforce of 1,800 staff, interns and volunteers and an affiliate subsidiary company expanding out network into Long Island, WellLife Network delivers critical services in the areas of behavioral health, intellectual/developmental disabilities, housing, co-occurring substance abuse behaviors, family support, vocational training and care management. These services meet the pressing needs of more than 25,500 individuals and families annually, some 5,500 New Yorkers every single day. A culture of caring, best practices models, a spirit of innovation and a commitment to measuring results and producing high return on investment drive our work. Visit http://www.welllifenetwork.org/ for more information.
About Queens Community House
Queens Community House (QCH) serves residents of all ages, races and ethnicities while supporting the viability of Queens as a whole. QCH was formed in 1975 (as Forest Hills Community House) to help heal a neighborhood conflict, and its reach has expanded over the years to serve nearby communities. Today, we offer a comprehensive network of services at 25 program sites across the borough, allowing us to impact individuals, families, and entire communities. Each year, our programs help thousands of Queens residents to thrive in school and make healthy life choices, to succeed in educating themselves and become engaged neighbors, to stabilize their housing situations, and to make the most of their senior years. Visit http://queenscommunityhouse.org/ for more information.
Bridget OBrien PR and Events 