Dr. Isma Chaudry Named 2021 FCA Champion of Change Honoree

Family and Children’s Association (FCA), a leading health and human services nonprofit organization on Long Island, will hold its 36th Annual Mission Moment Scholarship Fund reception honoring its Champion of Change honorees and scholarship recipients. This year’s breakfast reception will take place on Thursday, June 24, 2021 at 8:30 a.m. at Westbury Manor. The breakfast will celebrate the generosity of its donors, the extraordinary achievements of scholarship winners, and the dedicated staff who administer the program. Scholarship recipients will also have the opportunity to meet the FCA donors who help make their journey possible.

For over three decades, FCA's Scholarship Fund has guided local youth toward successful futures by enabling at-risk individuals to pursue higher education and improve their lives by matching them with donors. FCA has gifted over 1,500 scholarships worth over $2,000,000 to students engaged with FCA’s programs and services.

Past FCA scholarship recipients have gone on to blaze successful career paths thanks to the efforts of donors. George Alvarez was able to attend Stony Brook University School of Medicine and is a now a physician in Family Practice doing his residency at Northwell Health in Glen Cove. Jean Fleuriscar went on to study at Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education and is currently a resident in medical school. Marilyn Garcia is now a full-time teacher in Huntington with youth who have special needs.

This year’s keynote speaker, Brianna A. Vaughan, Esq, is the Village Justice of Hempstead. She is the youngest elected Justice in New York State. A graduate of Hempstead High School. Justice Vaughan completed her undergraduate and Juris Doctor studies at University at Albany, SUNY, and Albany Law School, where she focused on criminal law and became a pro-bono scholar completing over 300 hours of pro-bono legal work. Vaughan began her career as an Assistant District Attorney in Nassau County. While at the District Attorney’s Office, Vaughan co-chaired the NCDA Youth Advisory Council.

The 2021 Champion of Change Honorees are:

• Dr. Isma Chaudhry - A physician by profession, Dr. Chaudhry is an Associate at the Metropolitan Center for Sleep Medicine and serves as the Director & Executive in Residence, Graduate Public Health Programs at Hofstra University. In addition to her dedication to the Islamic Center of Long Island, Chaudhry has worked tirelessly over three decades to support her local community with a focus youth development programs, building bridges, celebrating ethnic diversity, and interfaith initiatives.
• Erik Coleman – A former NFL standout with the New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons, and Detroit Lions, Coleman currently hosts "Sunday Morning Kickoff" on SiriusXM NFL Radio, "Jets Late Night" on CBS New York, and “Jets Pre & Post Game Show" on the New York Jets website and social platforms. He serves as the ambassador for TRUST (Treatment Resources Utilizing Sustainable Techniques), which provides support for rehabilitation and recovery and is active in the My Brother’s Keeper Mentorship Program. Coleman is the proud recipient of Manhattan Youth Baseball Excellence in Sports & Philanthropy Award, the NY Sports Legend Humanitarian Award, the World of Children Award and is a Celebrity Ambassador for The Thrive Network.

Those interested in attending the event can register at: https://fcali.org/scholarship. FCA also encourages financial contributions to help purchase scholarships, school supplies, textbooks, laptops, meal plans, and other expenses for students in need. Donations can be made by visiting the registration webpage or by texting “FCAScholar” to 44321.