VCLC with Levittown Site Names Realtor Honoree for Variety Night

Levittown, NY; March 15, 2018 – Variety Child Learning Center(VCLC) headquartered in Syosset, NY with a second site located at the Geneva N. Gallow Elementary School in Levittown within the Island Trees School District, has named Woodbury’s Mara Navaretta, founder, owner and president of Homes By Mara Realty in Syosset, NY, as its Champion of Children & Families Honoree for its Variety Night. Selected as this year’s event honoree by the VCLC Variety Night Committee for her commitment to making a difference in the lives of families and children in need, Navaretta will receive an award in conjunction with her honoree designation during VCLC’s annual Variety Night fundraising dinner on Friday, April 27 from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury, NY, where she will be publicly recognized for the community outreach and initiatives she has participated in for the betterment of local families and children.

“I am very humbled to be selected as Variety Child Learning Center’s Champion of Children & Families honoree for its Variety Night,” says Navaretta. “Whenever I support a cause or initiate outreach to make a difference I do so because I feel it is important that we as businesses do what we can to give back to others who are need in whatever way possible. I do not do it seeking that pat on the back; however, it so nice to be receiving this recognition as I hope it will inspire other businesses to get more involved with giving back to their communities and getting involved with special causes that may be near and dear to their hearts.”

Among the various support that Navaretta has spearheaded for families and children in need are making regular contributions to Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation (CBTF) and taking part in various events involving The Ashley Wade Foundation, including its Jake’s Jammies pajama drive for children suffering chronic illness. Additionally, she has sponsored at her agency her own coat and toy drives, including one following Superstorm Sandy, and most recently held a clothing and gift card drive to help multiple families regain belongings that they lost from a four-alarm fire that destroyed their Woodbury homes.

Like VCLC, which is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Syosset with a second site at the Geneva N. Gallow Elementary School in Levittown within the Island Trees School District dedicated to providing services and high quality programs for young children with disabilities (over 50% of whom are on the autism spectrum) and their families, Navaretta’s past history shares a similar path with that of VCLC. Prior to real estate she served the special needs community, working at Options for Community Living in Smithtown while studying at Stony Brook University where spent her weekends supervising individuals with disabilities at group homes comprised of 12 residents to help them learn independent living and life skills. After graduating Stony Brook University with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree, Navaretta continued working for Options for Community Living where she spent her days visiting with individuals with disabilities to help them adapt to their transition of going from group home to apartments comprised of three residents and their adjustment to an even more independent lifestyle.

Mara Navaretta is a pillar of our community,” says Variety Child Learning Center CEO Janice Friedman. “It is our honor to present her with the Variety Child Learning Center Champion of Children and Families Award at Variety Night. Mara has relentlessly shown her commitment to children and families throughout her career as a realtor and formerly as a social worker for adolescences with disabilities in group homes and their families. We are proud to include Mara in our Variety family.”

Offering the business community an enjoyable night out while networking, making a difference for children with disabilities and supporting Navaretta as a remarkable, generous businesswoman has made a footprint in making a difference in the lives of local families and children in need, Variety Night will feature cocktails, sit-down dinner and dancing along with live music by Long Island’s popular band Decadia and entertainment by Comedy Central’s Andrew Kennedy. Evening MC will be Live It Up’s Donna Drake. There will also be raffles and a silent auction. Event dress is business attire.

Tickets are $175.00 per person and include sponsorship. RSVP is required and should be made by Monday, April 16. All proceeds will benefit the educational programs, services and support that VCLC provides for children with disabilities and their families.

For more information about Variety Night, sponsorship opportunities or to purchase tickets, please contact Mindy Knaffo via phone, 516-921-7171, Ext. 2144, or email events@vclc.org.

Established in 1966, Variety Child Learning Center is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit agency that offers an array of services and high quality programs for young children with learning, language and behavior challenges, including autism, and their families that focus on the educational, social-emotional and physical growth of the children, and home/school collaboration. VCLC, headquartered in Syosset and with a second site at the Geneva N. Gallow Elementary School in Levittown within the Island Trees School District, is a therapeutic environment where staff is dedicated to helping young children with disabilities become the best that they can be, and supporting and strengthening their families. For more information about VCLC, please call 516-921-7171 or visit https://vclc.org/.

Homes By Mara is a boutique real estate agency spearheaded by licensed broker and real estate veteran Mara Navaretta. Featuring a team of highly-skilled and trained agents, Homes By Mara specializes in servicing North Shore’s residential market on both the selling and buying sectors. Located at 30 Berryhill Road in Syosset, NY, the agency offers convenience and a turn-key solution in accommodating all real estate needs by sharing its office space with the law firm, Navaretta & Howard LLP. Navaretta and Howard, LLP has a special focus in real estate law and provides counsel and representation for all Homes by Mara agents to assure the homeowner receives quick and accurate answers to legal questions that may arise in the course of today's real estate transaction. Also available is a concierge service that consists of recommendations for every trade associated with the real estate industry including movers and contractors. For more information about Homes By Mara, please call 516-364-2500 or visit www.homesbymara.com.

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PHOTO CAPTIONS:

• Photo 1: Pictured is Variety Child Learning Center.
• Photo 2: Pictured is Woodbury's Mara Navaretta, founder, owner and president of Homes By Mara Realty in Syosset, who has been named Champion of Families & Children Honoree by Variety Child Learning Center for its April 27, 2018 Variety Night, where she will be publicly recognized and awarded for the community outreach and initiatives she has participated in for the betterment of local families and children.