Don Pius Commended by Huntington Station Enrichment Center and Boys & Girls Club

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - July 9, 2007) - Don Pius had lost a tenant whose work he really admired and supported for many years. The Huntington Station Enrichment Center was unable to pay rent on the building where it helps students with homework, provides a place for them to go after school and generally helps them keep out of trouble, so the Center was forced to move. Pius, the Enrichment Center's landlord and member of its board of directors, wanted them to continue to offer their important services to the community.

His solution? Pius sold four buildings located at 1264-1268 New York Avenue, appraised at $1.4 million dollars, to the Huntington Community Development Agency (HCDA) for $100,000 and forgave all past due rent that the Enrichment Center owed. The HCDA, in turn, has entered into a long-term lease with the Enrichment Center for $1 per year.

"We had run out of practical ideas about how to keep the Center going, when Don Pius stepped in," explained Dee Thompson, Executive Director of the Huntington Station Enrichment Center. "He told us that he thought our work was important and that he wanted to help us continue it. Then he made it all happen," she continued.

This is not the first time Don Pius has come to the Enrichment Center's rescue. In 2000, the Enrichment Center ran out of operating funds to continue its important work and risked closure. As a result, Pius donated mortgages valued at approximately $500,000 to the Center which provided a new source of revenues to fund Center operations for many years to come.

Pius, one of Long Island's largest providers of affordable rental housing to the economically disadvantaged was happy to speak about the Enrichment Center. "I've been very blessed in my life. It is wonderful to be able to provide young people the opportunity to succeed. The Center's after-school programs and Boys & Girls Club offer opportunities that can make a real difference in children's lives."

In addition to his help with the Enrichment Center, Pius was instrumental in establishing a $40,000 annual college scholarship fund for graduates in the Huntington School District. Money for the scholarships will come from rental income generated by apartments contained in the buildings sold to the HCDA. These scholarships are awarded to students based on need, not merely past performance. "Everyone can't be top students, but we should all be able to go to college if we want to," Pius explained. "I'm glad I can help deserving students who need a financial leg up."

An Old Field resident recently elected to the Old Field Village Board of Trustees, Pius has rehabilitated over 300 rental units within Huntington Township, providing housing for economically disadvantaged Long Islanders.

Contact Information: Contact: Alyssa Nightingale 631-367-8599 anight@att.net