The Sachem Educational Foundation has announced the honorees for its second annual gala, celebrating individuals and alumni who have made a lasting impact on the Sachem community.
Leading the list is Thomas J. Sabatelle, who has been named the 2026 recipient of the Walter C. Dunham Leadership Award. A proud Sachem graduate from the Class of 1960, Sabatelle was among the first alumni to return to the district as a teacher. Over a remarkable 34-year career, he served as a physical education teacher, coach and longtime director of health, physical education and athletics, shaping generations of students along the way.
Sabatelle’s legacy has been recognized with inductions into both the Sachem Athletic Hall of Fame and the Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame. In a fitting tribute, the gymnasium at Sachem High School North proudly bears his name.
He will be honored at the gala on Wednesday, April 15, alongside fellow Sachem alumni Matthew Riss and Mark Ciaburri, co-founders of Redefine Meals.
Riss and Ciaburri, both 2014 graduates of Sachem North and former soccer teammates, have built a successful business rooted in discipline, accountability and consistency. What began with just $5,000 and a simple idea—making high-quality, convenient meals more accessible—quickly gained traction at local sporting events, where they developed their first loyal customer base.
From those grassroots beginnings, Redefine Meals has expanded across Long Island, Queens and Westchester, now operating more than 24 locations. Despite its growth, the company has remained deeply connected to its roots, with multiple locations still within the Sachem School District.
To meet increasing demand, the company recently secured a 107,000-square-foot production facility at the former Entenmann’s site in Bay Shore, significantly boosting its capacity for future expansion.
The gala will celebrate not only individual achievements but also the strong sense of community that continues to define Sachem.