Philanthropy is as important to Adam Elberg as growing his business is, he said.
“I recognize that I am far more fortunate than most other people, so I am grateful,” said Elberg, founding partner, president and CEO, of Professional Physical Therapy. “I feel I can use my position as a founder and CEO of Professional to make an impact, give back and pay it forward.”
Professional Physical Therapy, with corporate offices based out of Uniondale, opened its first center in Bayside, Queens in 1998.
Since then Elberg, and fellow founders Robert Panariello and George Papadopoulos, have expanded Professional into has 152 outpatient facilities across New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
Every year, the various centers participate in philanthropic events like the Charity Challenge and Miracle Jeans Day.
There are 13 centers in Nassau County, including ones in Williston Park, New Hyde Park, Great Neck and Roslyn.
Over the past five years, Professional centers have raised more than $1 million, according to Elberg.
But for Elberg, the charitable events aren’t only about raising money.
They’re also a chance to bring employees closer to each other and to the communities they serve, he said.
“I think it’s important to be involved in the community you work and live in,” Elberg said. “I think being part of a bigger world, tying work, home, family and community together, matters. Whether that involves volunteering time, money or just protecting the environment for future generations.”
Charity Challenge, for example, is an annual event where the company is divided into teams. Centers in nearby areas join together to host fundraiser events to raise money for a charity of the team’s choosing.
Professional Physical Therapy then matches the amount raised by the winning team for the charity that team chose, Elberg said.
The winner isn’t solely picked based on which team raised the most money, Elberg said. The success of the event is taken into consideration, as well.
Elberg compared the event to the challenges on “The Celebrity Apprentice.”
“I think most of the employees are super excited,” Elberg said. “They get to give to the charity of their choice and have friendly competition at the same time.”
The company also participates in Miracle Jeans Day, where employees can pay to wear jeans to work. The money raised is donated to Cohen Children’s Medical Center; Professional raised nearly $25,000 by participating, according to Elberg.
Cohen Children’s Medical Center is a cause Elberg holds close to his heart, he said.
Professional has been the top fundraiser for Cohen Children’s Medical Center for the past seven years, and Cohen named Elberg the Gary M. Sherman Humanitarian of the Year in 2015.
Though Cohen Children’s Medical Center is a priority for Elberg, he recognizes there are many causes that are important and valued to others. That’s why he likes to let his employees choose their own causes to donate to, he said.
Elberg said the company also participates and donates to causes that come up unexpectedly.
This year, Professional raised for victims of the hurricanes in Puerto Rico and Houston. Professional raised $45,000 for Global Giving for the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund and UNIDOS Disaster Relief and Recovery Program, according to Elberg.
While Elberg encourages his employees to take part in charity events, he said they’re more than willing to do so.
“I think in healthcare we have a natural tendency to want to be helpful,” Elberg said. “It’s the nature of our day-to-day jobs, so it carries into all other aspects of our lives, fairly naturally.”
The company also has a policy in place that allows employees to take one day a year off to volunteer or do philanthropic work, Elberg said.
Employees are allowed to choose any activity they’d like, other than coaching their own kid’s sports team, to give back to the community, Elberg said.
“I think most people love working for a company that shows time and time again that we are a good corporate citizen and give back,” Elberg said. “Not just to our own causes, but the ones they hold close to their hearts, too.”
