Meet Our Charity Partner:

 Family & Children’s Association (FCA)


Family & Children’s Association (FCA) is deeply honored to be selected as Long Island Elite’s 2026 Charity Partner of the Year, reflecting our shared commitment to supporting Long Islanders and creating lasting community impact.

At FCA, the mission is simple, we’re dedicated to protecting and strengthening Long Island’s most vulnerable neighbors. Founded in 1884, FCA has spent more than 142 years helping families, children, seniors, individuals, and communities navigate social, emotional and economic challenges. Through more than 60 comprehensive programs, FCA provides care and services to Long Islanders at every stage of life. FCA empowers over 35,000 clients – ranging in age from 2 to 102 – to reach their full potential while building stronger, healthier communities where families can thrive and futures can flourish.


What We Do

FCA’s wide range of programs are designed to promote health and self-sufficiency

for individuals of all ages.


  • Programs the provide essential mental health services.
  • Programs designed to protect and empower our seniors.
  • Programs that provide family support and community outreach including our gun violence reduction in the Village of Hempstead.
  • Programs focused on substance use and addiction services, including three THRIVE Recovery community and outreach centers.
  • Two Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics located in Hempstead and Hicksville, which include problem gambling services.

As well as emergency youth shelters and residential care programs.

The 2026 LIE Capital Project Partnership

Every young person deserves the chance to grow, learn, and thrive—but for runaway and homeless youth, those opportunities are often cut short. For 50 years, FCA’s Walkabout Transitional Living Program located in Freeport has been a lifeline in Nassau County, helping nearly 8,000 youth ages 16–21 find safety, stability, and a path to independence through housing, education, and life-skills support.

Of Nassau County’s 1.38 million residents, nearly 2,000 youth experience    homelessness, run away, or face exploitation each year. Many arrive at Walkabout carrying invisible trauma and uncertainty – finding not just a safe place to stay, but the support they need to begin again and envision a brighter future.

FCA knows that transformation happens when young people are given both safety 

and opportunity to grow. Walkabout’s results speak for themselves. Over the past 

year, of the 12 homeless youth served at Walkabout:


100% were discharged to stable housing

91% achieved at least one short-term goal identified on their service plan

95% secured employment 

100% were engaged in school or work


Once you are a Walkabout resident, you’re always part of the Walkabout and FCA family. Residents know they can continue to receive support long after leaving the program— whether it’s returning for holidays, using Walkabout as a permanent mailing address, staying connected with staff, or simply knowing they will always have a place where they BELONG.


The LIE Lift: Wellness & Resilience for Long Island Youth is a comprehensive wellness and enrichment project designed to support the physical, emotional, and social development of youth served by Walkabout and other FCA programs. By transforming an existing garage into a fully equipped gym, installing a serene meditation gazebo, and enhancing programming with mentorship and skill-building activities, LIE Lift creates a holistic environment where young people can build strength, resilience, and confidence. 


This initiative not only provides dedicated spaces for physical activity and mindfulness but also offers Long Island Elite members the opportunity to engage as mentors and role models at a level that works best for them—whether through occasional workshops, ongoing mentorship, or one-time events—fostering meaningful community connections with youth who need it most.