The Huntington Foundation for Excellence in Education (HFEE) is proud to announce our 2019 Reach for the Stars Gala Honorees, Principal John Amato and Dr. Inna Gellerman. It is with great pleasure that we share our honorees with the Huntington community as each has touched the lives of so many within our town. Please join us in recognizing their accomplishments and contributions as we honor them throughout the year and especially at our annual Gala on March 8, 2019.
Entering his last year before retiring as long-time Principal of J. Taylor Finley Middle School, selecting Principal John Amato as this year’s District Honoree was an easy decision. A long tenured administrator with a reputation for prizing the detailed minutia of every day interactions among faculty and students, Principal Amato is known for his warm, caring, and genuine approach to leading a passionate Finley environment. His stewardship has led to a treasure trove of memories for students, Huntington families and teachers who have passed through the halls.
When selecting this year’s Community Honoree, the HFEE executive board could think of no better candidate to represent the commitment to and involvement in our community than Dr. Inna Gellerman. Celebrating her 15th year supporting the community with Gellerman Orthodontics, Dr. Gellerman is widely known for her extensive involvement in philanthropic pursuits, from serving on the board of directors of the Junior Welfare League of Huntington, the Hecksher Museum of Art, and KiDS NEED MoRE as well as on the committee of Pink Aid Long Island. Dr. Gellerman is deeply committed to supporting our community’s local needs, including supporting Huntington Robotics, HFEE, the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum, and the CSH Educational Foundation.
We congratulate our honorees and thank them for their incredible contributions to our community. Please join us in honoring them at our annual Reach for the Stars Gala on March 8, 2019. Stay tuned for more coverage on the lasting legacies of our honorees throughout the year and sneak peeks of Gala excitement to come!