In the heart of Women’s History Month, Family & Children’s Association, one of Long Island’s largest health and human services agencies, will honor women past and present with its third annual Long Island Women in Philanthropy event on Thursday, March 28 at The Lannin at Eisenhower Park.
The doors open at 8:30 a.m. for a morning of philanthropy, fashion, and fun honoring FCA’s 140-year history and the vision of all women with this year’s honorees, entrepreneur and businesswoman Isabel Alysa, CEO & Founder of Dolce Glow self-tanner and Sol Marie Alfonso Jones, program director for Long Island Community Foundation.
An inspiration to young women around the nation, Isabel Alysa survived childhood trauma that at age seven placed her, along with her twin sister, in foster care. As a young adult, she was hired by Los Angeles tanning salon.
After working her way up to tanning artist, she was able to launch her beauty empire in the self-tanning industry with her product Dolce Glow.
Today, Isabel counts among her clients Kim Kardasian, JLO and Megan Fox. Dolce Glow is carried in Ulta beauty, department stores such as Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus, and sold online.
For more than three decades, Sol Marie Alfonso-Jones has been working in the nonprofit sphere to better the quality of life for all on Long Island. In her current role as program director at Long Island Community Foundation (she manages the Foundation’s competitive grantmaking programs in the areas of education, youth development, and community and economic development.
She also leads the foundation’s strategic initiatives, including ensuring an accurate census count, developing regional solutions to racial and economic inequities, advancing fair and affordable housing, improving the performance of minority-owned small businesses, and supporting an inclusive and representative democracy.
A fashion show follows with clients, volunteers, and staff walking the runway and speaking about the impact FCA has had on their lives and on Long Island as a whole. Volunteers from Sewanhaka High School’s Cosmetology program will be onsite to prepare the models for their runway debut.
Before and immediately following the program, FCA will host a Women’s Market featuring a wide variety of products from local, women owned businesses. Attendees are encouraged to stop by the marketplace to support these female entrepreneurs.
“We experience the philanthropic ideal every day among our volunteers, donors, and all the women within the organization,” said FCA President and CEO Jeffrey L. Reynolds. “These women are past, present, and future heroes, striving to help each other achieve their potential and strengthen themselves and others within the community. This event was created to inspire a sisterhood of women, to help FCA continue to grow, and serve the Long Island community.”
For more information, to see a full list of the marketplace vendors, and to purchase tickets/sponsorships, contact Paige O’Brien, Vice President of Strategic Advancement and Chief Development Officer at 516- 746.0350 x 4320, PObrien@fcali.org or visit www.fcali.org/events.