Connie Deckel of Kings to Receive President's Award

It is with great pleasure that the Garden City Chamber of Commerce announces the selection of Connie Deckel to receive the first annual “President’s Award.”

This award, created by the 2011 Chamber Search Committee, recognizes an individual who has demonstrated extreme volunteerism toward local charities, and within the Garden City business community.

Deckel stands out as an individual who consistently volunteers to fill multiple needs and causes as they arise throughout the Garden City community and beyond. She will be honored at the chamber’s ninth annual Pineapple Ball on Friday evening, May 13 at The Garden City Hotel.

Deckel is the general store manager for Kings Supermarkets, Inc. Garden City store at 588 Franklin Avenue. Through the many project with which she involves the store, Connie has helped to make Kings shine!

For the past eight years, Deckel has served as a director on both the chamber board of directors and the Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club where she serves as chairperson of the Program Committee. Her scores of personal efforts have continually been directed toward the numerous projects supported by both service organizations.

A big believer in “giving back to the community,” through Deckel’s efforts, Kings Garden City supports the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of Garden City, the Salvation Army Holiday Drive and the daily support of the Interfaith Nutrition Network (INN) among other service organizations.

Through Rotary, Deckel volunteers for the Dictionary project for Garden City and Mineola third graders plus numerous other Rotary projects including the Gift of Life, Rotacare, the donation of turkeys to the local food kitchens and annual golf outing.

Through her associations with the Garden City chamber, Deckel contributes her personal time and efforts through Kings as a key volunteer for the Fall Festival Street Fair, the Easter Vintage Car Parade, village tree lighting and the annual “Taste of Garden City” at Lord & Taylor. She is also an active member of the Pineapple Ball Committee.

With myriad volunteer efforts too numerous to list, Deckel has also received recognition for her service to United Cerebral Palsy of Nassau (UCPN) having received the "Excellence in Community Service Award;" the "Dedication to the Merrick Community Award” from the Kiwanis Cub of Merrick; and an additional award from Kiwanis International. Kings Supermarkets, Inc. has also recognized Deckel with the “Community Service of the Year Award.”

Deckel will share honors at the Pineapple Ball with NY State Sen. Kemp Hannon, Citizen of the Year; Angelo “Bill” Proto, recipient of the Community Achievement Award; and John Wilton, 2011 Businessperson of the Year.

Joining the 18 Pineapple Ball sponsors recognized in previous articles are Re-Assessment & Evaluation Services, Inc. (Patron, $750; and Meyer Suozzi English & Klein (Friend, $600). Proceeds from this annual quintessential Garden City event are allocated to chamber-sponsored community programs and the Chamber Charitable Foundation, whose mission is to award scholarships to a deserving Garden City High School senior who has excelled in business; and to assist community members in need.

To receive an invitation to the Pineapple Ball, for sponsorship information, to donate a silent auction prize for online bidding and recognition, call Tracey Gittere at Legendary Events at 516-222-0550 or visit www.GardenCityPineappleBall.com.