HOLBROOK, N.Y., July 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc. (APFS) and Independent Group Home Living Program (IGHL) will co-sponsor and participate in Coastal Team Challenge - Long Island on August 12 – 13.  The event, hosted by World T.E.A.M Sports, a non-profit organization which organizes inclusive outdoor adventures between disabled and able-bodied athletes, will be the first of its kind on Long Island. For two days, five teams—two disabled athletes, each paired with an able-bodied coach in two-person kayaks—sporting such names as the Red Snappers, Green Gators and Blue Claws, will embark on a 22-nautical mile, non-competitive sea kayak trip along the Eastern shores of Long Island, N.Y.

Lee and an IGHL coach practice their kayaking techniques for the upcoming Coastal Team Challenge - Long Island. Lee loves sports and is quite an active man in his Southold IRA house on the east end of Long Island.

Lon Dolber, APFS' CEO and WTS board member, says "With Long Island's strong civic involvement, namely through non-profit organizations like IGHL, providing individuals and families with quality-of-life daily living programs and services throughout the area, Coastal Team Challenge - Long Island is a perfect event for fostering social inclusion and building social capital for the community at large."   

Following breakfast in Westhampton Beach, the teams will begin their trip, heading towards Pikes Beach at West Hampton Dunes for approximately 10 miles to Smith Point Park, with an overnight stay, camping on the beach. Teams will begin again the next morning and travel 12 miles until their final destination in Patchogue with a celebration at the Dublin Deck.

All participants have been training for weeks to prepare for the Coastal Team Challenge. Disabled athletes, specifically, have been working on building their physical strength through regularly scheduled fitness sessions and practice kayak runs throughout the summer.

"We are very excited to bring this event to IGHL's consumers and create opportunities that eliminate barriers and enable them to take on challenges they and their families might not have thought possible," adds IGHL CEO Walter Stockton.

Among the special athletes taking part in this year's challenge is Kevin McCann, whose family is the owner of the Long Island-based firm, 1-800-Flowers.

About American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc. (APFS)
 About Independent Group Home Living (IGHL)
 About World T.E.A.M Sports

Preston is enjoying his practice run for the upcoming Coastal Team Challenge - Long Island hosted by World T.E.A.M. Sports. An involved member of his community with the Knights of Columbus, Preston looks forward to being part of a team--The Blue Claws--sharing the experience with his teammates from American Portfolios and IGHL.

 

Sarah may bet petite but she is strong. She is quite an exceptional athlete with a heart to match. An avid swimmer, she is drawn to the water and will be in her element at the upcoming Coastal Team Challenge - Long Island.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140722/129607 
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140722/129606 
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140722/129608

CONTACT:
Melissa Grappone, VP of Corp. Comm.
PHONE:  631.870.8208
E-MAIL: mgrappone@americanportfolios.com 
OR:  Frank Lombardi, IGHL at: flombardi@ighl.org

SOURCE American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc.

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