Thomas Buonincontri One of the many Garden City Chamber of Commerce's recent initiatives has been the formation of a charitable foundation. One of the missions of the Foundation is to award an annual scholarship to a deserving Garden City High School student who has excelled in the area of business.

It is announced by Joanne Adams, president of the Garden City Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Inc., that Thomas Angelo Buonincontri, a senior at Garden City High School has been selected by the Business and Guidance Departments to receive the Chamber Foundation's 2009 "Excellence in Business Education Scholarship Award" at the Chamber's 7th annual Pineapple Ball on May 1 at the Garden City Hotel. This award recognizes the student who best exemplifies the spirit of the Garden City business community by achieving academic success in the area of business.

Over the past four years, Tom has taken six business education classes, two college level courses and two classes with honors. They include College Accounting, Business Management, College Business Management, AP Macroeconomics and Business Law. From ninth through eleventh grades, Tom has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards and has been recognized in "Who's Who Among American High School Students."

Tom's extensive outside activities have included service as a basketball coach for disabled children through St. Joseph's RC Church; participation in baseball games with disabled teens through Garden City Athletics; and through the NYC Rescue Mission, has organized a clothing drive for a homeless shelter, delivering donations personally on numerous occasions. Through the high school Key/Interact Club has helped organize and run various fundraisers. Beyond his studies and numerous extra-curricular activities, Tom Buonincontri works at a local restaurant for 25 hours per week. While Tom has been directly admitted into SUNY Albany's business program, presently he is undecided about his final college choice. However, he intends to double major in international business and accounting.

The Garden City Chamber and Chamber Foundation look forward to recognizing Tom Buonincontri at the Pineapple Ball along with honorees Scott Masterson (Forbes, Inc.), "Citizen of the Year;" Dr. Robert Feirsen, (Superintendent, Garden City Public Schools), "Community Achievement Award;" and Russell Ciolli (Grimaldi's Pizzeria), "Business Person of the Year."

The Chamber acknowledges major event sponsors to date: Albanese Organization, Inc. and the Garden City Hotel (Gold sponsors, $5,000); Community National Bank, the New York Racing Association, Inc., SMPL Technologies and Coach Realtors (Leadership sponsors, $1,500) For reservations, or for sponsorship or Journal ad opportunities, please call Tracey Gittere at Legendary Events (516) 222-0550; or register on line at www.GardenCityChamber.org.