Deborah Herman, publisher of Building Long Island, John Schmitt behind Charlie Schmitt and Joseph Farkas. Garden City resident Joseph A. Farkas raised $4,000 for the Charlie’s Champions Foundation, which benefits pediatric cancer patients at Winthrop-University Hospital in Mineola.

Most of the money was raised from supporters of Farkas who was featured in a cover story in Building Long Island magazine. The magazine donates a portion of its advertising proceeds to a charity selected by its cover-story subjects. Farkas was featured in the magazine’s August 2009 issue. Farkas, president of Jericho-based real estate investment and development firm Metropolitan Realty Associates LLC and his wife, Michelle, personally contributed the balance.

“I’m thrilled to support an organization as important as the Charlie’s Champions Foundation,” Farkas said. “The Schmitts’, who founded this organization, are close friends and neighbors. I hope this opens up new awareness and avenues of support for the foundation and the good work it performs for those in need on Long Island.”

Founded by Garden City residents John and Tara Schmitt in the name of their son Charlie, who is being treated for leukemia at Winthrop-University Hospital’s Cancer Center for Kids Charlie’s Champions Foundation is a not-for-profit organization founded to raise awareness and funds to benefit the cancer center. To learn more about Charlie’s Champions visit www.charlieschampions.com. To learn more about Winthrop’s Cancer Center for Kids visit www.winthrop.org/cck