Charity Champions Grand Prize Presentation at Northport High School

Optimum recognized Northport High School as the Suffolk County Grand Prize Winners of Charity Champions, a program that promotes volunteerism and encourages area students to raise money for a charity of their choice. Northport High School students selected the Ecumenical Lay Council Food Pantry of Northport-East Northport, a volunteer charity group that provides food and support to families in need. As part of their fundraising efforts, students created 500 one-of-a-kind ceramic bowls and hosted a soup kitchen-style event called “Empty Bowls 2014” where attendees enjoyed a dinner, musical entertainment and received a commemorative bowl for a cash donation. Over $4,750 was raised for the ELC Food Pantry from that single event. Optimum held a check presentation ceremony to recognize the work of Northport students that took place during the school district's 55th annual Arts & Music Festival in Northport Village Park. The festival included performances by the school district's bands and orch estras and a fashion show as student art work was on showcase throughout the park, and there were over 300 students, staff and community members in attendance. ELC Food Pantry representative Donna Galluccio accepted the $5,000 check and thanked the students for their hard work and commitment.