Law firm awarded Long Island LGBT Chamber of Commerce grant

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A law firm has been awarded the first Long Island LGBT Chamber of Commerce small business grant.

Cannizaro Law, an LGBT-owned firm in its first year of business with a focus on LGBT estate planning, was awarded a $2,500 grant. With the grant, the firm intends to offer in-person seminars to help LGBT people plan for their future.

Launched in 2022 by the LGBT Network, a nonprofit that supports the LGBT community, the chamber also announced its first grant sponsor, National EAP, an employee assistance program provider.

Aoifa O’Donnell, president and CEO of National EAP, said in a written statement that the organization is “delighted to be the first business grant sponsor for the Long Island LGBT Chamber of Commerce, offering financial support and opportunity to a new LGBT-owned small business.

“As DEIB [diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging] and work/life service experts, we are particularly thrilled to congratulate Louis Cannizzaro for launching his legal practice to meet the specialized estate planning needs of the LGBT community,” she added. “His new practice will ensure LGBT individuals experience both knowledgeable and affirming legal services, a key component to successful work and life health planning.”

Louis Cannizzaro, principal of Cannizaro Law, which has an office in Long Island City, said he was grateful for the grant.

“We are so grateful for the support of National EAP and the coordination from the Long Island LGBT Chamber of Commerce via LGBT Network – this is helping us meet our marketing objectives that is going to help us thrive in our first year of business,” he said in a written statement.

“We’re here as a resource, because as experts in this space, we know that LGBT people have specific needs and there’s a lot to know and understand,” he added.

“This is a great success of the work of our chamber – to support LGBT-owned businesses to take their next steps, and doing so by connecting them with other established companies,” LGBT Network CEO Robert Vitelli said in a written statement.

“In this instance, we have one small business helping another,” Vitelli added. “Now, we want to spread the word so that we can replicate this success and partnership and continue to help other LGBT-owned small businesses on Long Island to grow and thrive. The LGBT Network is celebrating its 30th anniversary – this is a snapshot of what we see for the LGBT community for the next 30 years.”