Brightway Living & Learning held a ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony to celebrate the opening of a new outdoor classroom at its Ronkonkoma preschool. The space was made possible through the generosity of former Brightway Board Chairperson Kevin Long and Timmy’s Team, who raised over $16,000 to support the project.
On November 15, 2025, just six days after celebrating his 60th birthday, Long took on the Richmond Marathon with a meaningful goal in mind: raising funds to create an outdoor classroom for Brightway’s youngest learners.
Long founded Timmy’s Team in honor of his son, Timmy, who attended Brightway’s Early Childhood Program at the Ronkonkoma school approximately 20 years ago. Originally aiming to raise $6,000 for the project, Timmy’s Team far exceeded its goal, bringing in nearly three times that amount to help bring the outdoor classroom to life.
The new outdoor classroom will provide preschool students, many of whom have recently been diagnosed with autism and other developmental disabilities, with opportunities to learn and grow in a natural environment. The space will encourage sensory exploration, gardening and hands-on experiences, with wooden wagons and tunnels, outdoor easels, art tables and a sandbox, offering students new opportunities for discovery and engagement beyond the traditional classroom.
“We are incredibly grateful to Kevin Long and Timmy’s Team for their extraordinary generosity and commitment to Brightway,” said Kim K. Kubasek, CEO, Brightway Living & Learning. “This outdoor classroom represents so much more than a new space for learning. It creates opportunities for our youngest learners to explore, discover, engage their senses and experience the world around them in new ways.”
“We are grateful to Kevin Long and Timmy’s Team for turning a personal connection to Brightway into something that will benefit generations of students to come,” said Joseph W. Schmidt, Esq. Brightway Board Chairperson. “This outdoor classroom is a wonderful example of what we can accomplish when people come together in support of our mission.”
“This project is incredibly personal because of the lasting impact Brightway has had on Timmy and our family since he first attended this campus more than 20 years ago,” said Kevin Long, Timmy’s dad and former Brightway Board Chairperson. “Brightway provided Timmy with a solid foundation and introduced us to the extraordinary people who work here. Through the generosity of Timmy’s Team donors, we are proud to help fund this new outdoor classroom. Knowing it will give children opportunities to explore, learn, and grow makes every mile of the marathon worthwhile.”