American Kidney Fund: Sometimes people or companies come to the support of a philanthropic organization by having a friend or family member effected by a disease to where the frustration of their not being able to live their lives as before or, worse, at all, is so intense that they pledge to themselves to "do something about it".

But, sometimes, an association with a charitable organization comes about in a much less dramatic and straight forward way. In our case, a friend with whom we play basketball in the mornings at our local YM & YWHA – JCC said, “I would like you to be on the local council of the American Kidney Fund. I think you will be able to help and it will be a nice fit for you.” He sent us a packet of information about the organization and then we met for lunch where he explained how he felt we could be of assistance as he began to shape the fundraising efforts for his organization in the Northeast Region of our country.

It made sense to us and we felt that, given time, we might be able to help him in his work to bring some relief to those with kidney disease and to help others who may not be aware of just how devastating and pervasive kidney disease is, and how vulnerable they themselves may actually be to getting it. We are usually not too good with things dealing with blood; but, somehow we could see where our "basketball buddy" was right; there really did seem to be a fit. We have been involved with the American Kidney Fund since mid 2005 and have helped in connection with the 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 Golf Classics on Long Island and with the New York City Spring Events. Both events have been successful and have set in place a pretty foundation on which to attract more-and-more support for this worthy organization and the dedicated people who do the work on behalf of those who need the help it gives and the information it disseminates.

Please feel free to review the details about the 2011 Golf Classic scheduled for Monday, August 1, 2011 at the Hamlet Golf Club on Long Island in Commack, NY. Here are some helpful links where you are invited to learn more about the American Kidney Fund or to contribute in some way in support of its current fundraising activity: Thank you.

Hebrew Free Burial Association: A number of years ago, Drew Kopf, the President of The Mat King, wrote a small book, a booklet really, entitled, The Midgets from Cincinnati, which he published as a vanity press publication through the courtesy of a friend who ran a small printing machine as part of his work. Mr. Kopf wrote the book because a dear friend of his had lost her father a number of years prior and, because she had been pregnant at the time, was unable to travel to attend her father's funeral and burial. She was unable to come to grips with his death and, not having seen him dead and buried, she had been unable to put that part of her life in place. Mr. Kopf's book was written in hopes of helping his friend do so.

But, Mr. Kopf had not and would not know her true situation until a number of years later with the death of his own father. And then he knew how much his little book had actually meant to her. Whether it had helped her actually; he could never be sure. But, she surely knew that he, her friend, cared enough to have written it expressly for her. There was of course, nothing that could be done for her father. He had had a proper, respectful and fitting burial and she had, indeed, visited his grave on several occasions. She just needed something more.

It is ironic, when you are focused on a particular subject, as Mr. Kopf was when his father was so ill and dieing, that everything concerning that subject seems to pop out at you and is almost everywhere. Mr. Kopf was making the arrangements for the burial when he came across a pamphlet about the Hebrew Free Burial Association. He had naively thought that there would never be a need for such an organization; one that helps indigent Jews who die with no chance of anything but a Potter’s Field burial to be buried in hallowed ground, with a proper funeral conducted by a Rabbi and with respectful marker set in place to mark their grave. It sounded so familiar; so wonderful and so important.

Since that time, Drew has made it his custom and that of our company to acknowledge the death of particular persons' deaths and to make a contribution to the Hebrew Free Burial Association in memory of those persons. The organization notifies the family of the deceased of such donations has been made. Mr. Kopf says, "It just felt and still feels like the right thing to do".

Plainview-Old Bethpage Chamber of Commerce: In todays rapid-fire communications oriented world, there is a tendency for business people to find themselves facing a computer screen more often than being face-to-face with other business people or potential clients. Networking organizations have been developed by clever entrepreneurs who saw the need to help business people support each others enterprises by sharing ideas about running their businesses and by referring customers who may be seeking a supplier. Similarly, community service organizations rally business persons and other community oriented individuals around certain philanthropic endeavors and, in the process, enable their members to “get out of the office” and mix. We have found that our local Levittown, Long Island, Old Bethpage Chamber of Commerce has connected us both to a constantly widening arena of both owners of small businesses, volunteer-based organizations, politicos, professionals of every stripe and the movers and shakers in some very largest businesses looking to connect with the rest of the business community and the community at large. We support it through the modest annual membership dues and by our attendance at its various gatherings and functions and by offering our input when the organization is considering options for a certain course of action. We are pleased to have made the suggestion for the creation of a Serenity Park on a small piece of land owned by our county and having that suggestion adopted by the county legislature with execution to be some time in the no-to-distant future.

Yeshiva College:

Jewish Star Theater Corporation:

Susan G. Komen: The Susan G. Komen Race for the the Cure will take place in New York City on Sunday, September 18th, 2011. We can raise pledge money connected with this event until October 31, so together we can continue our support of the Greater NYC Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure as they strive to fund even more life-saving breast health education, screening and treatment programs in the five boroughs of New York City, on Long Island and in Rockland and Westchester Counties. Your donation will also support national peer-reviewed research programs to find the cures. You can support us in this effort to raise funds or make a tax-deductible donation online by simply clicking HERE and following the prompts when you reach our page on the Komen site. Thank you.

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THE MAT KING
3000 Hempstead Turnpike; Suite 305
Levittown, Long Island, NY 11756 USA

Phone: 516-501-0744
Fax: 516-501-0753
Phone: 800-442-6544
Fax: 800-Mats-Fax (628-7329)