For Immediate Release
May 11, 2022

Board of Trustees to Make Suffolk Community College’s Health Clubs Free for County’s Disabled Veterans

Suffolk County Community College's Eastern Campus Health and Wellness Center Pool

Suffolk County Community College’s Board of Trustees will vote Thursday, May 12 to waive the membership fee for Suffolk County disabled veterans at the College’s two health clubs, said Board Chair E. Christopher Murray.  The College has health clubs on its Eastern Campus in Riverhead and the Michael J. Grant Campus in Brentwood.

Murray said the College’s Board previously lowered the cost of membership for veterans, active-duty military reserve and National Guard members and would now eliminate the membership fee for Suffolk County disabled veterans at the urging of disabled veterans’ advocates and the Suffolk County Legislature’s Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey. Murray said the College’s Board of Trustees will adopt the measure at its meeting on Thursday, May 12 (4 p.m. on the Michael J. Grant Campus in Brentwood).

 

The Presiding Officer of the Suffolk County Legislature Kevin McCaffrey said: “With Suffolk County having the largest population of veterans in New York State, we must go above and beyond and always find new ways to give back to every man and woman who have served our country. Thank you to the Suffolk Community College Administration and Board of Trustees for opening another door and providing more services and opportunities to the veterans of the United States Armed Forces.”

Suffolk County Community College will always honor the sacrifice of our veterans,” Murray said, “and providing free access to our College’s health club facilities to Suffolk County disabled veterans is a small but important recognition of Suffolk’s disabled veterans’ service to our country.”

Suffolk County Community College President Dr. Edward Bonahue lauded the Board of Trustees’ action and said, “Eliminating the membership fee is a small gesture to thank disabled veterans for their very large sacrifices.” Bonahue said Suffolk County disabled veterans can obtain the membership fee waiver by displaying a NYS Lifetime Liberty Pass, a Suffolk County Veteran Discount Card that confirms a "service-connected' disability, or a Suffolk County Parks Disabled Veteran Green Key Card.

“I am pleased that the college is offering Suffolk County disabled veterans’ access to our facilities at no cost,” said College Director of Veterans Services Shannon O’Neill, “Suffolk’s disabled veterans have already paid so much in their service and sacrifice to our country.”

The fee elimination will take effect immediately after the board’s Thursday afternoon vote.