Hall of Fame cheers Pat LaFontaine, elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame this spring after a spectacular career with the Islanders, cheers a throng of more than 8,000 runners on a beautiful summer night in Long Island. (Photos: Joe Vericker/PhotoBureau)

Great sunset, big crowd, LaFontaine
make Long Island a special event
Official results are posted | The race in photos

Runners enjoy sampling Kozy Shack puddings in finishing chute.

LONG ISLAND, July 29, 2003 – The enthusiastic greeting for runners at the starting line of the 18th annual JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge® was “Welcome to the largest race in Long Island history.”

Indeed, with more than 8,000 runners from over 250 companies, the Corporate Challenge on beautiful Jones Beach has an impressive following. Many of the participants – including Craig Gluf, company captain from the Henry Schein Company – have taken part each year of the event’s existence.

“I wouldn’t miss it, it’s a great time,” said Gluf. “It’s a fantastic event and we have 110 runners from Schein, our best ever. It is big and it has a great reputation because there is something for everyone. A pretty course, the beach, a party, and good people.”

On this particular night, the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge again delivered on many levels. It was a gorgeous summer night. A major local celebrity – former New York Islanders’ standout and Hockey Hall of Fame electee Pat LaFontaine – was on hand to start the event, high-five runners and sign autographs. And there were Kozy Shack puddings in the finishing chute.

The event is "a celebration of the community"

“It’s our first time sampling product at the event,” said Elini Carlavsky, company captain for Kozy Shack, a Long Island-based maker of some of the finest rice, tapioca and vanilla puddings you’ve ever tasted. “But we’ve been running in it as a team for many years. It’s really a celebration of the community and Long Island, and we’re glad to be a part of it.”

Kozy Shack’s CEO, Vinnie Gruppuso, participated in the event. So did Richard Daly, the President of ADP, and Dave Bonagura, the Managing Partner for the Long Island office of Ernst & Young. The captains of industry come out for this event because it has literally become the corporate social event of the season on the Island.

“Our gang loves it,” laughed Randy Hinden, a senior officer of Duro Dyne Corporation, a manufacturer of sheet medal accessories. “It’s a morale builder and they get a free meal.”

They also on this night got the opportunity to meet Pat LaFontaine, who played eight spectacular seasons with the NHL Islanders. He is one of only three Islanders to score more than 50 goals in the season and when he retired in 1996 was the highest-scoring American-born player in NHL history. The personable LaFontaine parlayed those stats into the Hockey Hall of Fame election this spring.

LaFontaine active with Companions in Courage

LaFontaine’s presence on this night was for far more than celebrity, however. He was representing The Companions in Courage Foundation (CIC), the event’s primary beneficiary. CIC is creating interactive playrooms at hospitals throughout the country, enabling children and caregivers to make connections, play games, share experiences and enrich time spent in the hospital.

“I’ve been a fan of Pat’s for many years,” said Ernst & Young’s Dave Bonagura. “It was a pleasure to meet him, not only as a former Islander, but for somebody who gives back generously to the community. That’s what this is -- a community event.”

To learn more about The Companions in Courage Foundation, please visit the organization’s website -- www.companions-in-courage.org. JPMorgan Chase made a donation to CIC along with its long-time partner with the Long Island Corporate Challenge, the New York State Heritage Trust.

“It’s impressive to be here and see so many people committed to being fit, having a good time as a team,” said LaFontaine, who lives in Montauk.

Alison Wade wins female title for the New York Road Runners.

As a world-class athlete, LaFontaine also had to be impressed by the performance of the individual winners – George Milic and Alison Wade. Both had a leg up, so to speak, working for New York City companies who make their money on running – Milic with Super Runners Shop, Wade with the New York Road Runners.

Milic downed defending champion Mike Nehr of Western Suffolk BOCES by 10 seconds, covering the 3.5-mile course in 17:15. Wade, a Webmaster for the Road Runners, finished in 21:50, besting Ellen Brach of the Board of Education, NYC by 22 seconds.

Kevin Pottmeyer of Geologic Services Corp. and Laura Cassell of Catholic Charities won the men’s and women’s Most Senior Executive category, among some hot competition. Approximately 70 CEO-types entered.

A brilliant sunset was descending upon Jones Beach and the road race was long over. But the post-race festivities showed no sign of slowing up.

“Oh, we’ll be out here all night long,” said Gluf, facility manager at Henry Schein, the largest distributor of dental and health care products in the world. “We’ve got lots of spirit and food. It’s one of my favorite nights of the year.”