Dawn Strain
Dawn Jessica Strain, President of DJS Events, has created some of the most extraordinary affairs for a prestigious clientele in the corporate, non-profit, and social sectors. Dawn is a charismatic leader in the business and networking communities, which led her to become the second-youngest woman to be named to the Long Island Business News “Top 50 Business Woman of the Year” in 2009 and to receive this award for the second time in 2012. Dawn was featured on the cover of Networking Magazine and her work has generated regional and national media coverage in outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Crain’s Business New York, and The Huffington Post.
Dawn’s passion for philanthropy and community motivated her to become Founder of the Long Island Elite (LIE), a 501(c)3 organization, established in 2002. This unique networking group connects successful executives while demonstrating the value and fulfillment of raising money for Long Island’s charities. They have donated over $850,000 to Charitable causes in the Long Island Community. Dawn served the organization as president from 2002 through 2012. In Early 2021 Dawn was invited to serve on the advisory board of Smile Farms an organization with a mission to provide developmentally disabled adults with meaningful work opportunities.
In 2012, Dawn created the innovative “WoofWoofWedding,” a unique fundraiser benefiting North Shore Animal League and Waggy Tails Rescue raising $10,000 in six weeks. The event was featured on Fox 5’s “Good Day New York” and TLC’s “Say Yes to The Dress.”
Dawn is a proud daughter, sister and a loyal friend to many. She recognizes that she could not accomplish any of this without support and effort from her amazing team. Dawn’s unyielding commitment to excellence and dedication to her clients’ needs results in event productions of the highest order. Most important, Dawn’s immediate family includes the infamous Piper, her eleven old Chihuahua, who usually accompanies her and was the bride and star of the Woof Woof Wedding and its media coverage as well as her six year old rescue Chorkie Thalia.
Her motto “Live with Grace”. How you climb up the mountain is just as important as how you get down and so it is with life, which for many of us it becomes one big gigantic test followed by an even greater lesson