The Great Neck United Community Fund (UCF) capped off 1998 by welcoming a new corporate sponsor and initiating a search for a new executive director.

UCF President Muriel Turk announced a $2,500 donation from corporate sponsor The Mayfair of Great Neck, an independent retirement living community on Cuttermill Road due to open this month.

She expressed UCF's pleasure that The Mayfair has joined "a new category of membership in UCF geared toward encouraging local corporations to think of us first when they are looking for worthy places to spend their community dollars." This category of membership affords companies like The Mayfair the opportunity to create a "feeling of goodwill and well-being when community residents see that the business is concerned about them, not only as customers, but as people with needs."

The Mayfair Executive Director Jeanette Perlman concurred. "As a new member of the community, The Mayfair wants to do its part in contributing to the community. Membership in the UCF is a perfect way to accomplish this goal."

UCF corporate sponsors receive an array of benefits in addition to the knowledge that their generosity helps support the range of services made available to the entire community by the 18 UCF member agencies. According to Ms. Turk, the names of corporate sponsors appear on UCF special event materials, including tee-shirts for the popular, annual five mile run and triathlon, and are listed in event promotions as well as the UCF newsletter, which reaches 14,000 local residences.

The Mayfair of Great Neck offers 148 one- and two-bedroom luxury, kitchenette-equipped apartments for an "elegant and easy lifestyle" with amenities including a community country kitchen, beauty parlor and barber shop, cocktail lounge, ice cream parlor, café, library, and fitness center with indoor pool. Gourmet dining, housekeeping, linen service, transportation and an array of leisure activities are optional. Ms. Perlman noted that "one of the area's leading health care providers will offer residents home health care and personal service, should the need arise."

The Mayfair of Great Neck is a joint project of Hassett Belfer Senior Housing, LLC of Great Neck and the CareMatrix Corporation of Needham, MA, which also opened The Mayfair of Glen Cove in late 1997.

Ms. Turk appealed to the community to continue their generosity to UCF throughout the year. "From the 1998 residential donor campaign, for which our mailing got off to a late start, we have been receiving envelopes daily with donations, but the end-of-year flurry of contributions needs to continue all year-round. Our goals for 1999 are to continue to reach out to the many new residents who comprise many cultural and ethnic backgrounds, and make them aware of what the fund does and who we are, so they know where to go when they need help."

To this point, she noted that copies are still available of the handy mini-directory listing UCF members agencies along with important local help numbers. New residents, and those who need additional directories, should contact the UCF office at 482-8101.

Ms. Turk announced that Linda Marshak has left the post of executive director at the end of a one-year contract. "We begin 1999 on a bittersweet note. Linda Marshak has reluctantly resigned as UCF executive director to pursue a career in law. The board of directors and I wish Linda every success in her pursuit of a legal career and look forward to working with her as a volunteer."

A search committee is being formed to fill the position. Interested parties can call 482-8101 for details. Resumés may be submitted to UCF, 30 Cumberland Avenue, Great Neck, NY 11021.

UCF's 18 member agencies, which provide health, companionship, counseling, rehabilitation, and shelter services to the entire community, are: Boy Scouts, CLASP Children's Center, Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic Violence, COPAY, EOC, Friends of Hospice, Girl Scouts, Great Neck Senior Center, Great Neck Student Aid Fund, Great Neck Visiting Nurse Association, North Shore Child and Family Guidance Center, North Shore University Hospital, Salvation Army, Sara's Center, The Rehabilitation Institute, United Cerebral Palsy-Nassau, USO of Metropolitan NY and Womanspace.