SANDY FAISON:
LIPP'S VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR FOR SUFFOLK COUNTY
by Jed Ryan

Sandy Faison is LIPP's Volunteer of the Year for Suffolk County. She has been involved with the Long Island Pride Parade for four years, and is currently on the Executive Board and serves as Chairperson for Fundraising. During my phone interview with Sandy, she spoke so energetically and passionately about her volunteer work that I felt as though we were talking face to face. Sandy chose to get involved with this particular organization mainly because of the sense of community which the parade brings every year. "Everyone should know that whatever money we get through fundraising goes right back to the community when the Parade comes around." At the beginning of the interview, I had asked Sandy if she was involved with any other organizations on Long Island. After I finished speaking with her, I don't know how she even has time to curl up with a good book once in a while, much less get involved with other groups! Planning for the Parade is a year long, full-time job. But Sandy stated that the end result is all worth it. "It makes me feel super-good to walk down Main Street with my head up high! Having 3,000 to 4,000 gay people and their supporters together at the same time-- it's like one big happy family!" Speaking of big families, Sandy is a mother of five and a grandmother (!) of eight.

This June will be the 11th Annual Pride Parade. Sandy has seen many positive changes through the years. "Now, the Parade is welcomed in Huntington. The police are incredibly cooperative. The ones at the Parade actually request to be there. They don't accept overtime! " Sandy should know. She is escorted by six policemen on motorcycles at the front of the Parade. Sandy acknowledges that we have come a long way on the road to acceptance, but that there's still a lot more to be done. She admits that getting other volunteers isn't always easy. Last September, to recruit new volunteers, Long Island Pride Parade Committee held its first Open House. The response was, unfortunately, less than phenomenal. However, one person, Billy Heywood, did show up. "Billy has been spectacular," Sandy says of her new friend. Sandy keeps looking. A Parade fundraiser at Forevergreen this past March resulted in two new volunteers.

Sandy's fundraising events for the parade are all year long. Showing her meticulous commitment and organization, she was able to rattle off all the year's events from memory. "As soon as the parade is over in June, we start fundraising for the next one. September is always a Fall Dance at the VFW in Sayville. Then comes the Winter Ball, the biggest event (and needless to say, the most work for the Parade Committee's volunteers). From January to May, we concentrate on the bars-- Club 608, Forevergreen, Auntie M's, The Bunkhouse, the LI Eagle in April, and Blanche in May. Right now we're working on adding three more bars to hold fundraisers at." Sandy estimates that the entire cost for the Parade is between $10,000 and $15,000. This includes costs most people don't even think about, like insurance. Sandy's own company supplies the flatbeds used during the parade, as well as the buses used to transport parade-goers.

Sandy wishes to thank all of her fellow volunteers, especially Billy Heywood; Ron, a new committee member who was "a tremendous help with the St. Patrick's Day Dance;" Eva Sanchez and her partner Rosie, who are responsible for the marshals in the Parade. "They also do all the cooking," says Sandy. "Eva and Rosie have been outstanding and fantastic- I couldn't have done it without them." Sandy also wishes to thank Justine Schachter, Merchandise Chair. "Justine does all the tickets for the dances. She's a tremendous help. And of course, I'd like to thank all of the bars for allowing us to hold fund raisers."

Last but not least, Sandy would like to acknowledge her partner of five years, Dana. In their scant amount of spare time, they like to bowl, go on road trips, and hang out at Forevergreen.

Clearly, Sandy Faison's volunteer work for the Long Island Pride Parade is a labor of love. "I can't wait for the next one-- June 10, 2001!" Thanks to hard work by Sandy and others like her, neither can we!

Related Articles:
John Schimmel: LIPP's Volunteer of the Year for Nassau County

Photos by Louis Trapani (c) 1999 & 2000