Long Island Philanthropist Harvey Manes Gives $8 Million to Transform Plainview Community Center
PLAINVIEW, NY – Long Island philanthropist Dr. Harvey Manes has donated $8 million to the Mid-Island Y Jewish Community Center in Plainview, funding a major transformation of the longtime community institution and leading to its renaming as the Manes JCC.
The donation was made through the Manes Peace Prize Foundation, which announced the gift on August 28. The foundation said the JCC, established in 1956, serves residents throughout Nassau County and western Suffolk County and is used by thousands of members and patrons.
Located at 45 Manetto Hill Road in Plainview, the Mid-Island Y JCC provides a wide range of recreational, educational and community services. Its facilities and programs include a fitness center, heated swimming pool, gymnasium, indoor track, pickleball, preschool and daycare, youth and teen programs, summer camps, adult and senior programs, Jewish cultural and educational activities and a food pantry.
The organization is also home to the Adler Center, which provides programs and services for children and adults with disabilities and special needs.
The $8 million contribution is expected to support extensive improvements to the aging facility. According to the South Shore Press, work has already begun, with foundation funding contributing to a new parking lot and flooring while additional renovations are planned. The newspaper also reported that a fitness studio renovation was recently made possible through support from Manes and his foundation.
Manes, an orthopedic surgeon, attorney, art collector, real estate investor and longtime Long Island philanthropist, has supported numerous charitable, cultural, health and community organizations across the region. His foundation focuses on promoting goodwill and understanding through education, art, health initiatives and community service.
The Plainview center also has a personal connection for Manes, who has used the facility himself for decades. His $8 million contribution now represents one of his most substantial investments in a Long Island community institution.
Mid-Island Y Jewish Community Center
Key Facts & Details
| Donation | $8 million |
| Donor | Long Island philanthropist Dr. Harvey Manes, through the Manes Peace Prize Foundation |
| Recipient | Mid-Island Y Jewish Community Center |
| Location | 45 Manetto Hill Road, Plainview, New York 11803 |
| Founded | 1956 |
| Service Area | Nassau County and western Suffolk County |
| People Served | More than 20,000 members and patrons benefit from the center’s programs and services, according to the JCC |
| New Name | The facility is being renamed the Manes JCC in connection with the gift |
| Purpose of Gift | To support major improvements and renovations to the Plainview community center |
| Renovation Status | Work has already begun, including parking lot and flooring improvements, according to the South Shore Press |
| Major Facilities | Fitness center, 25-meter heated swimming pool, gymnasium, indoor track and pickleball facilities |
| Programs & Services | Early childhood education, daycare, youth and teen programs, summer camps, adult and senior programming, fitness and aquatics, Jewish life and education, food assistance and services for people with disabilities and special needs |
| Affiliation | Beneficiary agency of the UJA-Federation of New York |
| Donation Announced | August 28, 2026 |
As part of the gift, the Mid-Island Y JCC will take on the Manes JCC name, marking a new chapter for an organization that has served Long Island families for approximately 70 years.
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