The Long Island Chapter of the Social Enterprise Alliance (LI-SEA) has initiated a new program set for Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012 at 8 am that will feature representatives of successful non- profit and for-profit social enterprises. Titled “Social Enterprise: A Nuts and Bolts Discussion,” the seminar will address the importance of social enterprises and how connectivity between for- and non-profit enterprises can provide both arenas with new opportunities for financial gain, mission enhancement and social good.

Panelists for the event, which will occur in Melville at the Citibank Building, 68 South Service Rd., lower level, include:

• Mike Brady, CEO of the Non-profit Greystone Bakery of Yonkers
• April DeSimone, Co-Chair of the Social Enterprise Alliance, NYC Chapter
• Bill Tymann, CEO, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Long Island
• Joe Hunt, Managing Director, Workforce Enterprises of NYC
• Les Scheinfeld, Director of Development, Habitat for Humanity

“This exciting group of for- and non-profit leaders promises to offer an important snapshot about how for-profits can become more socially conscious and how it can positively affect their bottom line; and how non-profits can continue to evolve and seek out creative ways to raise additional funding in this challenging economy,” explained SEA-LI Board Chairman Paul Arfin.

The Long Island Chapter of SEA is a membership organization that will be holding regular meetings and workshops geared toward exposing its members to the value of social entrepreneurship. LI-SEA helps nonprofits elevate their social initiatives beyond moral obligations; to generate real business value through positive social change.

The Social Enterprise Alliance is the nation’s largest social enterprise membership organization with 13 chapters across North America. The organization provides access to a vast and growing network of game changing entrepreneurs and nonprofit organizations that are demonstrating how social ventures are catalysts for change. Social enterprises use earned revenue strategies to pursue double or triple bottom line results.

Event Photos

A group of socially-conscious Long Island entrepreneurs and non-profit leaders have recently launched the Long Island Chapter of the Social Enterprise Alliance (LI-SEA), an organization geared toward creating positive social change and breakthrough business results.

“Our new chapter is seeking to change the way Long Island’s nonprofit community thinks about its financing strategy. LI-SEA can help nonprofits elevate their social initiatives beyond moral obligations; to generate real business value through positive social change. It also can help for- profits to tap into new markets and work in partnerships with nonprofits,” explained Paul Arfin, LI-SEA founding board member.

The Long Island Chapter of SEA is a membership organization that will be holding regular meetings and workshops geared toward exposing its members to the value of social entrepreneurship. The founding members of LI-SEA consist of social entrepreneurs in the for- profit and nonprofit sectors, potential social enterprise investors/philanthropists, foundation, and other interested parties (see complete list below).

The organization’s first breakfast meeting, which is complimentary and open to the public, will be held at the Woodbury Country Club on Tuesday, December 13th from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Kevin Lynch, President/CEO of National SEA is the guest speaker. Lynch began his tenure as CEO of the National SEA in June 2011. He is a social entrepreneur himself, having served as president of Rebuild Resources, a $2.2 million social enterprise in St. Paul, Minnesota that helps recovering, re-entering people find a path to sobriety through 12-Step recovery and work. Rebuild’s businesses include a custom apparel and promotional items business, and a contract manufacturer.

During the meeting, attendees will be encouraged to make their recommendations for chapter programs and to become involved in chapter activities. For additional information about attending LI-SEA’s inaugural meeting, contact Paul Arfin at 631-232-1262 or via e-mail at info@sea-li.org.

The Social Enterprise Alliance is the nation’s largest social enterprise membership organization with 11 chapters across North America. The organization provides access to a vast and growing network of game changing entrepreneurs and nonprofit organizations that are demonstrating how social ventures are catalysts for change. Social enterprises use earned revenue strategies to pursue double or triple bottom line results. The social needs addressed by social enterprises and the business models they use are as diverse as human ingenuity.

LI-SEA Founding Board of Advisors

LI-SEA has assembled a distinguished group of individuals to provide advice and assistance in its development. The group possesses extensive for-profit and nonprofit business expertise. They include:

• Paul Arfin, Intergenerational Strategies
• Jose A vila, Hispanic Business Roundtable
• Joseph Campolo, Campolo, Middleton, & McCormick
• Ken Cerini, Cerini & Associates
• Richard Dina, former CEO, Family and Children’s Association
• Reverend Patrick Duggan, Abundant Communities Together
• Nancy Engelhardt, The Energeia Partnership
• Nicholas Felix, Capital One
• Dennis Haber, Rubicon Property
• Bruce Newman, Pipeline LLC
• Diana O’Neill, Long Island Volunteer Center
• Julie Samkoff, Community Mainstreaming Associates
• Chuck Schwartz, Green Long Island, Inc.
• William Tymann, Big Brothers/Big Sisters Long Island
• Rick Van Dyke, former CEO, Family Service League
• Warren Wartell, Stony Brook University
• Tom Williams, former CEO, Cornell Cooperative Extension-Suffolk