Mayor Honors Jill Palmeri of the Andy Foundation

In fitting recognition of the Andy Foundation's tenth anniversary, Mayor John Watras presented Jill Palmeri with a village citation to honor her volunteer efforts to help less fortunate children.

Palmeri created the foundation in honor of her son, Andrew, who tragically died after being hit by a car in September 2003.

"I'm sorry there ever had to be an Andy Foundation," said Mayor Watras, who's known Palmeri since fourth grade. "I knew Andy and unfortunately he left us in 2003. Jill was very, very brave and went on and memorialized her son in a special way ... I just can't say enough good things about you."

To date, the “by kids-for kids” charity has distributed more than $700,000 in assistance to children in need on Long Island through charitable events like its annual yard sale, football clinics and Bingo parties. The foundation was inducted into the Long Island Volunteer Hall of Fame in January 2010.

"The Andy Foundation has become an iconic event ... everything they do is just unbelievable," Mayor Watras said, adding that they give to a number of child-based organizations including one he's involved with, Hagedorn Little Village School.

Palmeri credit's the foundation's growth to the "great volunteers" and "unbelievable support and generosity of the Garden City community."

"The spirit of giving back has never been stronger and our volunteer base just keeps growing, which is the key to our successful fundraising," she said. "The village citation was a wonderful validation of all the hard work we have put in over the last decade."

For more information about the Andy Foundation, click here.