SCO Family of Services Celebrating Annual Benefit to Support Vulnerable Children & Families

Honorees Include FJC Security Services, Inc. of Floral Park and Steven and Leslie Marentis of Old Brookville

GLEN COVE, NY – SCO Family of Services, a leading provider of human services in New York, on May 29th will celebrate its annual benefit at Nassau Country Club to support programs and services provided each year to more than 60,000 children, teens, adults and families at over 110 locations throughout Long Island and New York City.

The event will honor FJC Security Services, led by Chairman and founder Frank J. Califano, Sr. FJC has for more than a decade provided security services for seven shelters managed by SCO serving more than 1,000 people each day.  Other honorees include SCO Board Chair Kelly L. Williams, former Corporate General Counsel at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, and longtime supporters Steven and Leslie Marentis of Old Brookville, NY.

SCO each year serves more than 60,000 children, teens, adults and families at over 110 locations throughout Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx in New York City, and in Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island. In NYC, programs include homeless shelters, the Family Dynamics and Center for Family Life community centers, after-school and summer programs in Central Brooklyn and Sunset Park, family counseling, adoption and foster care, employment programs for adults and youth, transfer high schools for youths at risk of dropping out and early education programs including the Nurse-Family Partnership.

On Long Island, SCO’s programs include Madonna Heights school and residence in Dix Hills for young women recovering from trauma, the Robert J. McMahon residence and Tyree Learning Center in Sea Cliff for youth with developmental disabilities and Westbrook Preparatory School in Westbury, New York State’s first residential school for adolescents with Asperger’s syndrome and high-functioning autism.

The theme of this year’s Benefit is “A Derby Celebration” and will include a VIP Reception, horse racing, a bourbon bar, silent and live auctions and more.

FJC Security Services has been providing security in SCO’s New York City homeless shelters since 2005. “The staff at FJC not only keep our residents safe, they provide a calm, welcoming presence to new families who are entering an unfamiliar place under very stressful circumstances,” says Douglas O’Dell, Interim Executive Director of SCO.

Steven and Leslie Marentis will receive an Extraordinary Service Award. The Marentis’ have supported SCO for 16 years, participating in fundraising events and providing food and gifts for Halloween parties and Thanksgiving dinners for the children who live at SCO’s Robert J. McMahon Children’s Center in Sea Cliff.  Leslie has served on the Fashion Show Committee and the Marentis family has adopted an SCO family each year – providing them with gifts during the holidays. Steven is President of Sound Refrigeration and Air Conditioning in New Hyde Park.

Another highlight of the evening will be the presentation of The Pat Brown Scholarship, named in memory of longtime supporter Pat Brown of Port Washington. The award is presented to a young person in an SCO program who has overcome obstacles to achieve academic success.

SCO Board Chair Kelly Williams will be recognized with a Leadership Award.

SCO Family of Services helps vulnerable New Yorkers build a strong foundation for the future. We get young children off to a good start, launch youth into adulthood, stabilize and strengthen families and unlock potential for children and adults with special needs. SCO has provided vital human services throughout New York City and Long Island for more than 100 years. Ninety-three cents out of every dollar donated goes directly to help people in need.