Community Impact Award
Jim Margiotta
Owner & President, J Margiotta Company
Jim Margiotta is the President and owner of J. Margiotta Company, a produce wholesaler located in Hunts Point. Jim grew up in Westchester County NY, and later moved to Long Beach because of his love of the ocean and surfing. Jim and his wife Nicole raise their four young children here and are active members of the community.
The Margiotta family produce business has been operating for over four generations. They supply high quality wholesale produce, bringing healthy nutrition from farm to supermarket shelves and restaurants. During the pandemic Jim connected with LBCA and responded immediately to the spike in need as income halted due to shutdowns. Jim supplied and delivered thousands of pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables. A mission near to his heart, Jim recognized the limitations that pantries can have regarding securing and storing healthy fresh produce. On several occasions Jim sent his J. Margiotta trucks to LBCA, delivering cases of high quality produce for community distribution organized through LBCA. His produce served thousands of residents in Long Beach, from our Senior Housing residents to St. Maryʼs Outreach, the LB Soup Kitchen, the MLK Center, the City of Long Beach, and the Long Beach school district food lunch distribution sites.
At times, Jim personally loaded his own vehicle and transported smaller shipments home from work directly to the Soup Kitchen. His impact was measurable, significant, and is ongoing.
Michael Bonino & Billy Taubenfeld
Co-owners, Gold Medal Produce
Gold Medal Produce is one of the largest produce wholesalers in the Northeast.
A family run business with over fifty years of experience, Gold Medal Produce sells over one million pounds of produce per week. When LBCA reached out to Michael soon after the unemployment spike in 2020, Michael, along with Billy,
immediately offered to help the Long Beach community. With Gold Medal Produce located in Hunts Point near J.Margiotta Company, the two companies teamed up to offer a variety of produce in bulk. Like Jim, on several occasions Michael has personally loaded his own vehicle and delivered produce to Long Beach on behalf of LBCA for local outreach.
When we discussed LBCAʼs intention to honor Gold Medal Produce, Michael - who lives on our barrier island - knew they had a scheduling conflict and could not attend. Still, LBCA could not separate their generous support and the collaborative effort Gold Medal Produce shared with J. Margiotta Company to provide relief to our community. On behalf of LBCA and the entire Long Beach community, we thank Michael and Billy for their generosity and compassion for the Long Beach community.
Humanitarian Award
Phil Bruno
Long Beach HS, Dean
Phil Bruno, a Dean at Long Beach High School, has been a steadfast student advocate and mentor in our school district. After graduating from St. John’s University 17 years ago, Phil began his career in education. During his first two professional years, Phil worked as a Special Education teacher. For the last 15 years, he has served our Long Beach High School students, first as a Special Education Teacher and for the last 12 years he has been a Dean at the high school.
Phil has mentored and coached many of our students and families throughout his years in Long Beach, fostering positive adult-student relationships along the way. His approach is welcoming and non-judgemental. Phil’s ability to connect with students is why he is so loved by students, parents and his colleagues. He has remained a friend to many of our students and their families - long after they have left high school.
Phil is one of the key staff members that founded the Long Beach High School food pantry for students and families in need. With the support of the staff and administration, the creation of the food pantry has fed and clothed hundreds of students and their families in a discreet and accessible manner. Phil continues to proactively impact our high school students and their families well beyond the traditional duties of a school dean.
Chris Brown
Long Beach HS, Dean
Christopher Brown is in his 20th year as a Special Education teacher and a Dean at Long Beach High School. A native of Chittenango, New York, and married to Great Neck School District Guidance Counselor, Jordana Cohen-Brown, he attended Cortland University (B.Z.), C.W Post (M.A. Ed), Hofstra University (M.A. Physical Education), and MCLA (Administrative Certificate).
Brown started the Life Skills Program and Best Pals program at Long Beach High School before taking on the role of Dean of Discipline. Along with Long Beach High School Dean, Phil Bruno, Brown began conducting home visits during Covid when students stopped logging on to virtual school. Brown saw a need in the community and stepped up to raise funds, collect donations, and make hundreds of deliveries to meet the needs of Long Beach High School students and their families. During home visits, Brown noticed that many students lacked WiFi, functional computers, food and cleaning items. As a result, he bought hotspots, computers, and food for families who needed assistance. In addition, he provided cleaning items, clothing, and emotional support to students who experienced loss during Covid. Brown continues to work closely with the pantry, collecting donations, reaching out to community members, identifying students in need, and making deliveries to provide families with essential items.
Making A Difference Award
Maria Hartmann
Long Beach HS, Teacher
Maria Hartmann is in her 19th year as an English teacher at Long Beach High School. A native of Port Jefferson Station, and graduate of Allegheny College (B.A.) and Chatham Women’s College (M.A.T.), Hartmann is married to Long Beach teacher Matt Hartmann and they have two sons, Matthew, 14 and Thomas, 10. She began a small food pantry 3 years ago in her classroom to meet the needs of some of her students and was eventually granted a larger space in the building to operate a food and clothing pantry available to all students at the High School.
When schools closed in 2020, she worried that the students who relied on the pantry wouldn’t have access to food. LBHS Deans, Chris Brown and Phil Bruno, stepped up and they worked together to fulfill the needs of these students as well as others as the list grew. While supplying Chris and Phil with names, addresses, and needs of students, they were able to raise funds, collect donations, and deliver food to families. With a current need larger than ever, she continues to organize the pantry, identify students in need with the help of LBHS teachers and counselors, and pack weekly bags of food and clothing for students to bring home. None of this would be possible without the support of Long Beach High School administration and constant flow of donations to the pantry from faculty and staff.