AMERICANA MANHASSETS RITA CASTAGNA
Principal, Castagna Realty and Honoree, The Snow Ball

By Maureen Traxler
A business woman who brings a shining smile to philanthropy...

Snow at holiday time adds magic to the season, but even without snow, Rita Castagna and Americana Manhasset know how to create that magical mood.

Champions for Charity, the fI've-day holiday shopping spree that benefits Long Island charities, celebrates its tenth year at the Americana Manhasset, and now at Wheatley Plaza in Greenvale, this December. The event merges good business practice and awareness of the needs of nonprofit organizations. It was the innovation of the Americana Manhasset team that is led by Rita Castagna and her husband Frank, principals of Castagna Realty, the owner/manager of the properties.

In 1954, the land for the present Americana Manhasset was purchased by Franks father and in 1956 the Center opened as a community style shopping center. By the 1980s, changes were necessary and thus began the start of the evolution of the Center into the Americana Manhasset of today. This family business has always had a community minded attitude but what really brought this into focus was the Champions for Charity Program.

During the special week that falls on the cusp of December, shoppers may designate 25% of their purchase receipts as donations to charities of their choosing. When Champions for Charity was first started ten years ago, the beneficiaries were North Shore Hospital, Long Island Jewish Medical Center and St. Francis Hospital, says Rita. Today, the event benefits 87 charities.

In a recent interview with Networking magazine, Rita mentioned that one of her favorite aspects of the Champions for Charity event is strolling along and shopping. I see neighbors and people I've worked with on the fundraising events and boards of nonprofit organizations. She adds, Americana Manhasset is on a street (Northern Boulevard), you may know, and the atmosphere makes it feel like your own hometown.

A smaller community

Rita recalls that her community involvement was tied to the growth of the Americana Manhasset. Frank was busy with the business, so I attended local functions, she says, which helped her become more aware of the needs in her community. She paraphrases Andy Warhol: Times change things, but actually you have to change them yourself. And in like essence, soon Rita was an actI've participant in community change. People see needs and combine with friends and groups to make a difference.

Compassion and philanthropy

A founding member of the Friends of Old Westbury Gardens, the Friends of Mommas House and the Partners Council of North Shore-LIJ Health System, Rita joined on when a friend said, Were having a meeting. Do you want to come? At the Partners Council, she worked to bring more womens health services to the area, and the group raised funds to purchase breast cancer detection equipment. We ran the September fashion shows, with the participation of Americana Manhasset, she says, complete with the excitement of a Parisian fashion show.

Reaching out to young women in need, Rita co-chaired the first annual dinner dance for Mommas House ten years ago a successful event that set the pattern for the coming years. Mommas House provides a structured home environment for unwed mothers age 17-21, while allowing them to continue educational or vocational training and learn to support themselves and their children independently.

Mommas House deserves our support, says Rita. There are many more young women on Long Island that would benefit from the organizations attention and care.

In March, Rita was honored as Woman of the Year by the Viscardi School, where she has worked tirelessly on the Reach for a Star Committee, which raises funds on the schools behalf. The committee contributes to the respite program for the parents of the children with disabilities and the graduation outing for the senior class. It raised funds to build the Bienecke Patio, which is wheelchair accessible, and the Clara Carucci Memorial Garden, a beautiful atrium that provides a quiet place for reflection.

In remarks at the luncheon, Rita spoke of human dignity and how this value is reflected in the classrooms and hallways of Viscardi School. She said: The school is not a sad place; on the contrary, it is very inspiring.

Rita is passionate with whatever she touches, says Iris Katz, who has worked with Rita on the Reach for a Star Committee. She has a wonderful set of family and community values. She has vision, sets the bar high and moves causes forward. A hands-on volunteer, I've seen her at the Halloween parade, selling jelly apples I believe. She has plenty of energy, and Im proud to call her my friend.

Recognized for service

This December 3, North Shore Child and Family Guidance Center honors Rita for her years of service. Gala chairperson Andrea Leeds notes, She is so deserving of this award. Im impressed by this working woman who gI'ves of herself her time, which is huge, as well as financial support yet she has humility. She will be joined by Ed Travaglianti, Long Island president, Commerce Bank, as an award recipient. Rita has served on the Guidance Centers board of directors for eight years, and she says the presentations by clinical departments motivates the board and helps its members realize there are many problems to address. She commends the Centers Right from the Start program helping newborns to six-years-olds and the psychological services provided during times of crisis. And Rita adds, I was particularly proud of the agency after 9/11. They were first responders, helping families that were waiting for loved ones to come home. She remarks, The department presentations are very interesting and they leave me with the feeling that I am doing something important.

ActI've in many cultural and philanthropic organizations, Rita also serves on the Board of Directors of the Fair Media Council and on committees of the Nassau County Museum of Art. The Castagnas have been honorees of Tilles Center, the Long Island Childrens Museum, the Institute for Student Achievement and St. Francis Hospital. They have also receI'ved the Sid Jacobson Spirit Award and the Association of Fundraising Professionals Philanthropy Day 2000 Award.

In an unassuming way, Rita is always there to help and always has a smile, says Corky Paston, who has served on numerous committees with Rita at the Nassau County Museum of Art. She can step back and watch people, and then know what their needs are.

A learning experience

Admitting that she has always been on the shy side, Rita credits her participation in community service for giving her more confidence. Through community service, Frank and I have met a lot of our friends, people we wouldnt have known otherwise. Her efforts on behalf of cultural organizations has enriched me, she says, adding, I've learned more about classical music, and been introduced to artists and musicians.

I've also met outstanding persons who I admire, comments Rita, such as Wendy Chaite, who took up the cause for lymphatic research. Rita recently attended the Diabetes Research Institutes fashion show sponsored by Americana Manhasset. Members of the New York Jets, their wI'ves and children were the models, and she notes that many dedicated people in the community have been doing outstanding work in the fight to combat that disease. And through her participation in events sponsored by worthy organizations, she, too, has become aware of peoples problems and on-going research efforts. I've grown as a person, she concludes. Perhaps, her own compassion and commitment is what makes Rita very persuasI've, and successful, in getting friends and acquaintances to support such organizations and make donations.

Family and business

This coming April, the Castagnas will celebrate their golden annI'versary. Frank says that in the busy early days of marriage and family, they shared the days experiences, so each knew what was happening at home and in the business. After raising the children, Rita became more involved in the daily activities at Castagna Realty. She knows and is involved in every major decision, remarks Frank.

He listens to my criticisms, opinions and additions, notes Rita, and Frank adds, She may not say much, but what she says is important. In philanthropy, Rita says, Frank has always backed me up in whatever organization I wanted to participate in, giving financial support, too.

Originally from Flushing, Rita graduated from Barnard College, where she studied zoology. Soon after her marriage to Frank, the couple moved to Brookville, their home for 41 years. The Castagnas enjoy golf and tennis, travel, and of course, family. Their son Fred works at St. Francis Hospital and their daughter Catherine and her husband Joseph have four actI've boys, aged 3 to 15, still keeping Rita busy with family. In addition to expanding their opportunities to travel abroad, Rita and Frank hope to remain actI've and healthy, and continue contributing to the community.