Ruth Vishna Deane of Plainview has been named KOLI Coordinator by the Mid-Island Y Jewish Community Center located at 45 Manetto Hill Road. The newly-created position was made possible by a grant from UJA-Federation of New York.

KOLI - Kehilla of Long Island - is committed to bringing the Jewish community together through various projects and functions. Comprised of 14 synagogues from the Orthodox, Conservative and Reform movements and the Mid-Island Y JCC, it recently sponsored an annual Family Field Day at Bethpage State Park and collected food and toys for the needy with the assistance of local teens.

"We are thrilled to welcome Ruth to the KOLI family and look forward to working together to promote a unified Jewish community," said Rabbi Seth Gordon of Bethpage Jewish Community Center and a founding ember of KOLI.

In her new role, Deane will develop and coordinate KOLI events as well as expand KOLI's membership and activities.

"I'd like to see KOLI become an invaluable resource for the entire Jewish community of Long Island," said Deane. "I'm looking forward to helping make KOLI 'user-friendly,' a common ground for all Long Island Jews, a forum for helping others, as well as a producer of unifying programs."

KOLI functions are open to the entire Jewish community. For more information on KOLI and its upcoming events for you or your synagogue, please call 822-3535, ext. 332.

The Mid-Island Y JCC is a nonprofit community center offering programs for children, adults, seniors, singles and teens. For more information about the JCC, visit the website at www.miyjcc.org.