MISSION STATEMENT
FoBB’s mission is to improve the water quality of Bellport Bay and the Great South Bay. Our primary activity is Operation Ecosystem Restoration (“OER”), which brings the community together and improves water quality, creates habitat and protects shoreline through a sustainable solution – shellfish restoration. We have been implementing OER since our inception in 2015, and have successfully and sustainably planted over six million shellfish.
Due to an adult oyster's ability to filter up to 50 gallons of water per day, our successes have significantly cleaned the Bay, with approximately 300 million gallons of Bay water filtered per day (as of 2026). Our fundraising pays for equipment, water operations, scientific evaluation, and educational programs. We are proud to allocate over 85% of our budget directly towards our on-water programs. We partner with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County (CCESC) for scientific evaluation, and with Brookhaven Town for a Marine Protected Area.
FoBB sponsors community educational seminars on shellfish restoration and nitrogen pollution mitigation. Our initiatives benefit all of Suffolk County. Our success contributes to clean recreational use of the Bay by approximately 1 million people - enabling safe usage for swimming, sailing, snorkeling, paddle boarding, and fishing.
In Summary: We are turning the tide one shellfish at a time, and restoring the marine ecosystem of Bellport Bay for generations to come.
We are a Not-for-Profit 501(c)(3) organization created to help improve the water quality of Bellport Bay and the Great South Bay. We are committed to educating the public through seminars and on-water programs. Our strategies include the planting of oysters and shellfish to filter the water of Bellport Bay, communicating the importance of environmental stewardship, and the education of neighbors and residents to alternatives for high-nitrogen lawn fertilizers.
Our success with shellfish planting has become increasingly important in light of the closing of the channel between the Bay and the Atlantic Ocean which was created in 2012 during Superstorm Sandy. The water quality of Bellport Bay and the Great South Bay is at significant risk of deterioration due to the lack of tidal flush that no longer exists as of 2022. Oyster restoration plays a crucial role in enhancing water quality and habitat, and promoting ecological balance. Additionally, community engagement in these efforts has contributed to fostering a healthier and more resilient ecosystem.
Officers:
Thomas Schultz - Co-Founder and Director of Restoration Program
Katia Read - Co-Founder and Chair
Larissa Chraim - Co-Director
Maria Slavnova - Education Director
Christina Woodard - Co-Director
Board Members:
Amanda Burden, Howard Read, Peter Schulte, Rae Specht, Habibatu Yanni
Thomas Schultz
Co-Founder & Director of Shellfish Restoration Program
Thomas resides in Bellport Village where he and his wife Mary are raising three young daughters. After holding a position as a Legislative Assistant for the NY State Assembly, he decided to open Gallery 125, a fine arts gallery in Bellport, which produces several art exhibitions each year. In 2015, he produced an exhibition spotlighting sculptures created by Katia Read. Katia’s pieces capture the natural shapes and forms found on the Bay bottom, including that of shellfish. They decided to donate a percentage of proceeds from art sales to efforts related to shellfish restoration in the Great South Bay. This early collaboration led to the creation of FoBB in 2015.
Katia Read
Co-Founder & Board Chair
Katia is an environmentalist and artist. Katia earned a BFA in sculpture at the Rhode Island School of Design. Her work has been exhibited at The Drawing Center, Rose Burlingham Gallery, NYC, Gallery 125, and the Marquee Gallery in Bellport. In 2015, with Thomas Schultz, Katia co-founded Friends of Bellport Bay on an environmental and planting mission aimed at recreating lost habitat and improving water quality in the Bay. Katia and her husband Howard raised their two daughters in Bellport and NYC.
Maria Slavnova
Education Director
Maria has worked with FoBB since 2020 and is currently a student at Stony Brook University, pursuing a B.S. in Marine Science and Psychology. She received her Open Water SCUBA Diving certification through the Hampton Dive Center in 2023. Maria has a deep passion for the environment, which she shares with Long Island youth through FoBB’s many educational programs.
Larissa Chraim
Co-Director
Larissa is a Stony Brook University graduate, holding a BS in Marine Science. She has experience in environmental education, research assistance (including microplastic and wastewater topics), and salmon restoration. She obtained her Open Water SCUBA certification through the Hampton Dive Center in 2021. She currently resides in Beirut, Lebanon, and is a passionate advocate for marine conservation, animal welfare, and environmental justice.
Christina Woodard
Co-Director
Christina is a Stony Brook University graduate, with a degree in Marine Vertebrate Biology. Currently also working as an EMT with the FDNY. With concern for the environment, she enjoys helping create ecosystems that are more resilient to climate change and other stressors.
Board Members
Rae Specht - After spending several years managing grants at Bloomberg Philanthropies and as a Fellow with Bloomberg Associates, Rae is pursuing her Master of Science in City Design at the London School of Economics. Previously, she served as Executive Director of FoBB and co-founded Four Girls for Families, a clean water initiative supporting communities in Cambodia. Rae studied English, Environmental Studies, and Urban Studies at Cornell University. She grew up in Bellport Village, where she developed a deep appreciation for the Great South Bay.
Amanda Burden - Amanda is Principal at Bloomberg Associates, an international philanthropic consultancy advising mayors around the world to help improve the quality of life of their citizens. Previously, she was the New York City Planning Commissioner during the Bloomberg Administration from 2002-2013.
Howard Read - Howard is the Founding Partner of Cheim & Read, a contemporary art gallery located in Chelsea and the Upper East Side, NYC. Howard also serves on the Bellport Environment Committee, focusing on improving environmental conditions for Bellport residents. Howard and his wife Katia are long time residents of NYC and Bellport.
Peter Schulte - Managing Partner, CM Equity Partners; Peter serves on the boards of several non-profit organizations, including the Bellport Historical Society, Rainforest Alliance and Lasell University, and is a former member of the boards of Marymount School in New York City, Deerfield Academy, Center for Business and the Environment at Yale University and the New York League of Conservation Voters.
Habibatu Yanni - Habiba holds a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design from SUNY Farmingdale. Habiba’s hobbies include equine therapy leading and swimming. She obtained her Open Water SCUBA certification from the Hampton Dive Center in 2025. She has been working with FoBB since 2022, and is enjoying the work to benefit our ecosystem.
IRS Tax ID Number 82-1658902