IGHL co-founders Konnie Kuhn and Walter Stockton. (Douglas Harrington)

St. James - Once again supporters of Independent Group Home Living (IGHL) gathered up-island in appreciation of an organization that sets the standard for the care of developmentally disabled adults and children. This year one of their own, co-founder and IGHL Board President Konrad "Konnie" Kuhn, not only handed out numerous awards, but received two very special honors himself.

Along with IGHL CEO Walter W. Stockton, Kuhn founded the organization as a response to the horrific conditions that were exposed by then WABC-TV investigative reporter Geraldo Rivera in his 1972 exposé "Willowbrook: The Last Disgrace." Conditions that Sen. Robert F. Kennedy at the time described as ""Living in filth and dirt, their clothing in rags, in rooms less comfortable and cheerful than the cages in which we put animals in a zoo."

IGHL opened up their first home in Mount Sinai in 1978 with eight former Willowbrook residents who were cared for by a staff of three caregivers. The organization has since grown to include 75 facilities serving hundreds of residents and program clients with a staff of 1,500 dedicated caregivers.
At this year's 32nd Anniversary Gala Kuhn was honored by the National Small Public Leadership Council (NSPLC) with the 2011 Outstanding Leader Award.


After accepting the award from C. Franklin Speight, Chairman of American Capital Partners Ltd., Kuhn told Hamptons.com, "I feel very delighted, very proud of what everyone has done in this organization, but we can never forget where it was and where we proceeded from and we still have a lot of work to do. We can't stop."

Also in attendance was State Senator Kenneth P. LaValle who presented Kuhn with a resolution, not just a proclamation, that was passed unanimously by the State Senate recognizing him as an Outstanding Citizen in Service to the Community.

Master of Ceremonies Ann Liguori with Scott Vallary. (Douglas Harrington)

Speight himself was honored by the IGHL with one of 21 of the organization's 2011 Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs Awards. The other honorees included Thomas Curtis, Branch Manager of Dawson James Securities' Baltimore, MD office, who has been named Chairperson of the "American Business Leadership Committee" to help spearhead fund raising efforts on behalf of the IGHL Foundation; Stephen Axelrod, Wolfe Axelrod Weinberger Associates, LLC.; Andrew Brodkey, President, CEO, Chairman of the Board, Pacific Copper Corporation; Sharon Bush, philanthropist; Peter Dickie, President, CEO, Quantum Rare Earth Developments Corp.; Joseph Fiore, CEO, CFO, Berkshire Capital Management; Robert Isaksen, President, Long Island Market, Bank of America; Tariq Khan, President, 7 Eleven Owners Association; Kevin Law, President and CEO, Long Island Power Authority and President, Long Island Association; Craig Marino, President, Cleanfully Yours Building Maintenance; Julie McCann-Mulligan, Senior Vice President, Merchandising, 1-800Flowers; Paul D. Meringola, Chairman and CEO, Medical Action Industries; David Polen, CEO and CIO, Polen Capital Management; Christine Sheahan, Publisher and CEO, Networking Magazine; Bob Rogers, Managing Partner, Robert K Rogers; Dr. Robert Ryan, President, CEO, Nuvilex, Inc.; Robert Wild, Founding Partner and Chairman, Garfunkel Wild, P.C. and Jack Wynn, President and CEO, Jack Wynn & Company.


Another Long Island business heavyweight was in attendance as usual, as Jim McCann of 1-800-Flowers was particularly thrilled to be at this year's gala to see his sister Julie accept her award. A long time supporter of IGHL, McCann noted, "Some of the best entrepreneurs that I have come across are in the world of not-for-profit. Not only do they have the same skills, not only do they have the same needs, but frankly they have higher barriers to overcome. They have that special something that comes from knowing they are the people doing the good work. Not everybody can say that, but in the not-for-profit world they can."

Distinguished attorney and Mather Hospital Chairman of the Board Kenneth Jacoppi noted Kuhn's worthiness in receiving his award, "My friend Konrad Kuhn did such a wonderful thing creating this organization for people in such great need, people who could not live independently without the services the IGHL provides. He is wonderful for our society, he is a wonderful man."


Always a fantastic event, this year's gala was no exception with WFAN and The Golf Channel host and sports commentator Ann Liguori doing a spectacular job as Master of Ceremonies. The evening's entertainment was provided by singer/songwriters Billy Austin and Dylan Dixon. After dining on a scrumptious buffet dinner amid the stunning ambiance that is uniquely Flowerfield, the 1,000 plus attendees took to the dance floor.

It was a grand evening in support of one the nation's greatest provider of services to the developmentally disabled. IGHL supports and defends those among us who cannot defend themselves. Altruistic entrepreneurship at its very best!