On May 8 at Leonard's of Great Neck, The Great Neck Community Fund will honor Nassau County Legislator Judi Bosworth; North Hempstead Councilwoman Maria-Christina "Kitty" Poons; former Village of Great Neck Plaza trustee Joel Liebowitz (in memoriam); and Shirley Romaine, a board member and founding member of several Great Neck organizations.

Judi Bosworth is serving her first term as Nassau County Legislator in the 10th District. Formerly a trustee of the Board of Exception starting in 1991, Legislator Bosworth served as vice president of the board from 1995 to 1998, and president of the Board from 1998 to 2003. She was also special projects coordinator for the 16th Assembly District for former Assemblyman Tom DiNapoli.

Having a strong commitment to the community, Legislator Bosworth is a board member of the Great Neck Community Fund, the Great-Neck Manhasset Community Child Care Partnership, and the Great Neck Arts Center. She is also a member of the advisory boards of the Open Door Parent-Child Caring Center and Focus, Inc. and a member of the Rotary Club of Great Neck.

A former New York Public Schools elementary teacher, Bosworth received her Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Early Childhood Education from City University of New York at Queens College. Judi and her husband, Dr. Jay Bosworth, reside in Great Neck. They have two adult children, Brian, a physician and Michael an attorney.

Maria-Christina "Kitty" Poons represents the 4th Councilmanic District, which includes the villages of Roslyn, Roslyn Estates, Munsey Park, North Hills, Great Neck, Kensington, Kings Point, Thomaston, and the unincorporated areas of Manhasset and Great Neck, including Great Neck Gardens and Allenwood.

Known for her strong background in education and advocacy, Ms. Poons worked in the Great Neck School District for over 33 years. She also has extensive experience as a bilingual education consultant in several school districts in North Hempstead, including Manhasset.

A highly respected community leader, Ms. Poons has served as a board member of the New York State Safe Kids Coalition, the Manhasset/Great Neck EOC, the Great Neck Senior Center, the Great Neck Student Aid Fund, the Education Assistance Corporation (EAC), and the Great Neck Community Fund. She also sits on the Town of North Hempstead Committee Against Domestic Violence.

Ms. Poons is past president of the Hispanic Community of Great Neck. She is chair of the Great Neck/Manhasset Child Care Partnership and also serves as chair of the Episcopal Women, All Saints Church in Great Neck.

She is the recipient of many awards and honors. In 1994, she was inducted into the Town of North Hempstead's First Annual Women's Roll of Honor. In 1995, she was honored by the League of Women Voters during their Women's History Month celebration. She is also the recipient of the prestigious Giraffe Award from the Great Neck Chamber of Commerce and was chosen as one of Nassau County's Outstanding Hispanics.

Married to Ronald Poons, past chief of the Great Neck Alert Fire Company, she is the mother of three daughters and nine grandchildren.

(Editor's Note: Joel Liebowitz was a former trustee of the Village of Great Neck Plaza and a board member of The Great Neck Community Fund. Although he died last August, UDF is honoring him in memoriam for his many years of service to the Great Neck Community.)

Joel Liebowitz was appointed to the Plaza's Board of Zoning and Appeals in 1987 and was appointed to the board of trustees in September 1990. He also served as cable commissioner, and contract negotiator and long-range planner. He was the village's taxi commissioner and representative to the Nassau County Village Officials Association. Professionally, Mr. Liebowitz was the former CFO of a graphic arts firm.

According to Village of Great Neck Plaza Mayor said mayor Jean Celender, "Joel was a public servant in the noblest sense of what public service means." "a man of loyalty, a man whose word was his bond. He never sought publicity, glory or praise and never had his own personal, hidden agenda. What he did see to do was to serve the people of his village calmly, quietly, skillfully and professionally to the best of his abilities."

Carol Teplin, executive assistant to the mayor, recalled how "truly interested" Joel was in everyone's life, truly interested." I will miss his hugs and his great big heart, but I will never forget him," Ms. Teplin said.

Mr. Liebowitz is survived by his wife, Janice, children Alan and Karen, and his brother, Paul Liebowitz, also a Great Neck resident.

Shirley Romaine is a longtime resident of Great Neck and considers herself lucky to have had the many associations and opportunities that this community offers. Those associations have made it possible for her to pursue her interests and passions as an arts, community and social activist in addition to enjoying a career as an actress and television personality. This award coincides with the 25th anniversary of her serving as host for Cablevision's Artscene on Long Island.

Mrs. Romaine is currently coordinator of performing arts and an instructor for the Great Neck Adult Program, a vice president of the Great Neck Arts Center, co-president of the North Shore Community Arts Council, co-chair of the Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington. She is a member of Womanspace, the Great Neck League of Women Voters and the National Council of Jewish Women. Professionally she has created theater/ art oriented programs which she performs throughout Long Island, the metropolitan area and beyond at museums, libraries, art centers and colleges, is host/narrator for the Dance visions company, serves as host for the award winning television program Artscene on Long Island and for Public Access Television's New Playwrights series.

If you would like to purchase tickets to the gala dinner please call 482-8101.