Long Island Council

For more information about the Long Island Council contact:
Mary Leffel
Officer, Individual Philanthropy Group
Save the Children
[email protected]
203.246.3481

Our Mission

Save the Children Long Island Council is a volunteer group committed to supporting the work of the national organization, whose mission is to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives. The Council promotes the work of Save the Children through fund-raising, education, experience-based advocacy and the development of public awareness.

Our History

In 1984, ML Galston and Susan (Sooky) Lassen had a concerned conversation about the famine in Ethiopia. They believed that by working together to raise awareness, the Long Island community would want to help children and families less fortunate.

ML and Sooky planned a chicken salad luncheon for which they charged a small donation to be given toward the crisis. They raised $50. Sooky was associated with Save the Children in the UK, so affiliating with Save the Children U.S. was a natural. Thus began Save the Children Long Island Council.

Subsequently, the L.I. Council’s inspirational founders gathered their friends to plan other events.  As we approach 2024 our 40^th Anniversary, The Long Island Council continues to raise awareness and fund for Save the Children. Our revenues have grown from the first $50 to more than $7 million over the past 35 years.