THE AWARDS
CERINI & ASSOCIATES SOCIAL IMPACT AWARD
This award will be given to a nonprofit generating over $2 million in revenue that measures success not just by meeting its mission, but by affecting the surrounding community. Impact goes beyond the number of children served, shelters provided, and mouths fed. Impact looks at how the organization impacted the Long Island community as a whole, and how the results have been measured.
CERTILMAN BALIN LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE AWARD
This award recognizes an exemplary nonprofit leader (who may be an Executive Director, board member, staff member, volunteer, etc.) whose accomplishments have advanced his/her organization. The leader must work in and reside in either Nassau or Suffolk Counties. This is not about traditional volunteering, directors, or funding, but focuses on innovation in driving organizational change and social impact.
CLAIRE FRIEDLANDER FAMILY FOUNDATION ARTS & CULTURE AWARD
This award is available to any arts and/or cultural organization that has had a significant impact on Long Island. This includes organizations that have had a significant, measurable impact on their community, developed new and/or innovative programming, developed effective fee-generating programs, or have demonstrated outstanding achievement in their artistic and/or cultural field.
FLAGSTAR BANK INNOVATION AWARD
This nonprofit has been innovative in adopting new platforms that have led to a significant increase in the organization’s ability to meet its mission. This could include the implementation of technology that enables the organization to achieve cost savings and better communication; a strategic approach to fundraising; a unique and effective public relations campaign; etc.
JOVIA FINANCIAL CREDIT UNION HALL OF FAME AWARD **2025 HALL OF FAME RECIPIENT – LGBT NETWORK**
The Long Island Imagine Awards Hall of Fame was established to honor those organizations that consistently excel in the areas of leadership, impact, and operations. These organizations continuously operate at the highest level and have been recognized by the Imagine Awards as a consistent winner or finalist.
NERDS THAT CARE FAN FAVORITE AWARD
Each finalist is automatically entered into the voting pool to win the $3,000 Fan Favorite Award. Voting typically runs for 3 weeks in March/April. The public can vote daily via social media and each finalist is encouraged to share the link. The finalist with the most votes is declared the “Fan Favorite” and is announced LIVE at the event.
VANGUARD BENEFITS RISING STAR AWARD
This award will recognize a nonprofit generating under $2 million in revenue for its outstanding innovation, impact, and achievements in meeting its mission. The award will be given to an organization who demonstrates an outstanding record of sustained achievement, has successfully demonstrated successful financial performance, and has built a reputation for excellence within the community.
*SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE* DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION & ACCESSIBILITY (DEIA) AWARD
This award recognizes an organization for prioritizing DEIA within its mission OR within its programming to deepen and expand its DEIA impact and to strive to build DEIA into program design and delivery, staff recruitment and engagement, volunteerism, and donor engagement. The organization needs to show that DEIA is a primary focus and how the organization is effectively addressing DEIA issues through its programming and its organizational culture (from the top down).
AWARD WINNERS
YEAR 12 WINNERS (2024)
- BETHPAGE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION DEIA AWARD: The Women's Diversity Network
- CERINI & ASSOCIATES SOCIAL IMPACT AWARD: SCO Family of Services
- CERTILMAN BALIN LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE AWARD: David Kilmnick, Founder & President – New York LGBT Network, Inc.
- CLAIRE FRIEDLANDER ARTS & CULTURE AWARD: Spirit of Huntington Art Center
- FLAGSTAR PRIVATE BANK INNOVATION AWARD: Green Inside and Out
- JOVIA FINANCIAL CREDIT UNION HALL OF FAME AWARD: The Viscardi Center, Inc.
- NERDS THAT CARE FAN FAVORITE AWARD: Hair We Share
- VANGUARD BENEFITS RISING STAR AWARD: Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County
YEAR 11 WINNERS (2023)
- BETHPAGE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION DEIA AWARD: The Viscardi Center, Inc.
- CERINI & ASSOCIATES SOCIAL IMPACT AWARD: ECLI-VIBES
- CERTILMAN BALIN LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE AWARD: Eileen Minogue, Executive Director – Book Fairies
- CLAIRE FRIEDLANDER ARTS & CULTURE AWARD: Long Island Children's Museum
- FLAGSTAR BANK INNOVATION AWARD: ACLD (Adults & Children with Learning & Developmental Disabilities)
- VANGUARD BENEFITS RISING STAR AWARD: Hair We Share
- NERDS THAT CARE FAN FAVORITE AWARD: Family & Children's Association
YEAR 10 WINNERS (2022)
- CERINI & ASSOCIATES SOCIAL IMPACT AWARD: Backstretch Employee Service Team of NY
- CERTILMAN BALIN LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE AWARD: Kathryn Nastri, LCSW, Executive Director – Harmony Heights
- CLAIRE FRIEDLANDER ARTS & CULTURE AWARD: The Eglevsky Ballet
- FLUSHING BANK INNOVATION AWARD: Family Service League
- VANGUARD BENEFITS RISING STAR AWARD: Andrew McMorris Foundation
- NERDS THAT CARE FAN FAVORITE AWARD: Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck
YEAR 9 WINNERS (2021)
- CERINI & ASSOCIATES SOCIAL IMPACT AWARD: Long Island Housing Partnership, Inc.
- CERTILMAN BALIN LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE AWARD: John D. Kemp, President & CEO – The Viscardi Center
- CLAIRE FRIEDLANDER ARTS & CULTURE AWARD: Children's Museum of the East End
- FLUSHING BANK INNOVATION AWARD: L.I. Against Domestic Violence
- VANGUARD BENEFITS RISING STAR AWARD: Allied Foundation
- NERDS THAT CARE FAN FAVORITE AWARD: Book Fairies
- NONPROFIT RESOURCE HUB HALL OF FAME AWARD: Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County
YEAR 8 WINNERS (2020)
- CERINI & ASSOCIATES SOCIAL IMPACT AWARD: ECLI-VIBES
- CERTILMAN BALIN LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE AWARD: John Miller - The Guide Dog Foundation & America's Vetdogs
- CLAIRE FRIEDLANDER ARTS & CULTURE AWARD: Splashes of Hope
- EMPIRE NATIONAL BANK INNOVATION AWARD: Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County
- VANGUARD BENEFITS RISING STAR AWARD: Birthday Wishes of Long Island
- NERDS THAT CARE FAN FAVORITE AWARD: Book Fairies
- NONPROFIT RESOURCE HUB HALL OF FAME AWARD: Island Harvest Food Bank
YEAR 7 WINNERS (2019)
- CERINI & ASSOCIATES SOCIAL IMPACT AWARD: Island Harvest Food Bank
- CERTILMAN BALIN LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE AWARD: Dr. Ellenmorris Tiegerman - Tiegerman
- CLAIRE FRIEDLANDER ARTS & CULTURE AWARD: Bay Street Theater
- EMPIRE NATIONAL BANK INNOVATION AWARD: Paws of War
- VANGUARD BENEFITS RISING STAR AWARD: Helping Makes U Happy, Inc.
- NERDS THAT CARE FAN FAVORITE AWARD: Helping Makes U Happy, Inc.
YEAR 6 WINNERS (2018)
- CERINI & ASSOCIATES SOCIAL IMPACT AWARD: The INN
- CERTILMAN BALIN LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE AWARD: Sister Patricia Griffith - Mercy Haven, Inc.
- CLAIRE FRIEDLANDER ARTS & CULTURE AWARD: Cinema Arts Centre
- EMPIRE NATIONAL BANK INNOVATION AWARD: Long Island Alzheimer's Foundation
- FLUSHING BANK RISING STAR AWARD: Girls Inc. of Long Island
- NERDS THAT CARE FAN FAVORITE AWARD: Patient AirLift Services
YEAR 5 WINNERS (2017)
- CERINI & ASSOCIATES SOCIAL IMPACT AWARD: Pronto of Long Island, Inc.
- CERTILMAN BALIN LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE AWARD: Theresa Regnante - United Way of Long Island
- CLAIRE FRIEDLANDER ARTS & CULTURE AWARD: East End Arts
- EMPIRE NATIONAL BANK INNOVATION AWARD: Adults and Children with Learning and Develpmental Disablities (ACLD)
- BUSINESS EXCHANGE RISING STAR AWARD: Angels For Warriors
- NERDS THAT CARE FAN FAVORITE AWARD: Contractors for Kids
YEAR 4 WINNERS (2016)
- CERINI & ASSOCIATES SOCIAL IMPACT AWARD: Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth (LIGALY)
- CERTILMAN BALIN LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE AWARD: Lillian Julien - COPE Foundation
- CERINI & ASSOCIATES SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURISM AWARD: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island
- EMPIRE NATIONAL BANK INNOVATION AWARD: School-Business Partnerships of Long Island
- BUSINESS EXCHANGE RISING STAR AWARD: Best Buddies New York
- PAYCHEX FAN FAVORITE AWARD: Family & Children's Association
YEAR 3 WINNERS (2015)
- CERINI & ASSOCIATES SOCIAL IMPACT AWARD: Long Island Housing Partnership, Inc.
- BUSINESS EXCHANGE LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE AWARD: Randi Shubin Dresner - Island Harvest Food Bank
- BANK OF AMERICA/U.S. TRUST SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURISM AWARD: eWorks Electronics Service, Inc.
- EMPIRE NATIONAL BANK INNOVATION AWARD: The Viscardi Center
- BUSINESS EXCHANGE RISING STAR AWARD: Patient AirLift Services
- UNITED WAY FAN FAVORITE AWARD: Central American Refugee Center
YEAR 2 WINNERS (2014)
- CERINI & ASSOCIATES SOCIAL IMPACT AWARD: Peconic Land Trust
- NIXON PEABODY LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE AWARD: The INN
- SOCIAL ENTERPRISE ALLIANCE LONG ISLAND CHAPTER SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURISM AWARD: FEGS Health and Human Resources
- PILOT BENEFITS INNOVATION AWARD: United Cerebral Palsy Association of Greater Suffolk, Inc.
- CLAIRE FRIEDLANDER RISING STAR AWARD: RotaCare, Inc.
YEAR 1 WINNERS (2013)
- CERINI & ASSOCIATES SOCIAL IMPACT AWARD: Island Harvest Food Bank
- NIXON PEABODY LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE AWARD: Center for Science Teaching and Learning
- CAPITAL ONE BANK SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURISM AWARD: Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County
- FRANK G. ZARB SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AT HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY INNOVATION AWARD: Long Island Crisis Center
- CLAIRE FRIDLANDER RISING STAR AWARD: Wyandanch Homes and Property Development Corporation