The Jeffrey Mosenson Memorial Fund held its first Las Vegas Casino Night on January 29, at Crest Hollow Country Club. Over 300 guests enjoyed an evening that offered them the best of both worlds - the opportunity to gamble, eat fine food and to raise money for a very worthwhile cause. The night also included raffle prizes and a sports memorabilia auction.

The funds that were raised will build the Jeffrey Mosenson School of Trauma and Emergency Medicine and Research Center. The school will be the future home of the Nassau County Fire, Police and EMS Academy and a research laboratory for New York Institute of Technology/New York College of Osteopathic Medicine.

David and Gayle Mosenson were happy to announce at the event that Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi has committed $300,000 toward the project. Everyone involved in the project, especially the representatives from the county, are really moving the project along and those in charge hope to have all of the agreements necessary to finalize the project within 90 days.

Jeffrey Mosenson was traveling to class at the New York Institute of Technology from his Woodbury home on Jan. 28, 2003 when he was involved in a fatal car accident. Due to slippery road conditions, his 2000 Chevrolet Blazer struck a tree on Brookville Road. Jeffrey was 20 years old.

David Mosenson spoke at the fund raiser about how his son Jeff Mosenson just couldn't get enough emergency training and how he loved responding to other people's emergencies. The school, David said, will be a memorial to who and what Jeff was. "It is important that people understand the result that the school will provide is the true legacy of Jeff," said David. "When a fireman, policeman, paramedic or other first responder responds to an emergency for you or a loved one here on Long Island, there is a high probability they will have trained at this school. If people can understand this, then when they are making a contribution to the Jeffrey Mosenson Memorial Fund, they will someday make a difference in their lives, or the lives of a loved one."

The night included the presentation of the first Jeffrey Mosenson Memorial Humanitarian Award to Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto. According to the Mosenson family, Venditto was chosen to receive this award for the care and concern he has shown to many of the individuals in the community. Special mention was made about his sensitivity to the families who lost loved ones in the September 11 tragedy.

The Plainview-Old Bethpage- J.F. Kennedy High School DECA Club presented a check for $1,500. They raised this money through a project that included the sale of bracelets in memory of Jeff.

The next fundraising event will be the Second Annual Jeffrey Mosenson Memorial Fund Golf Outing that will be held on May 9 at Pine Hollow Country Club. Golf will be limited to the first 144 golfers. Last year's event was a tremendous success with over 350 people attending the evening events. Non-golfers are encouraged to attend the evening events, which will include a lavish cocktail party and buffet dinner, open bar, raffles and silent and live auctions. Information can be obtained by calling the Jeffrey Mosenson Memorial Fund at 921-3599.