The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

fundraiser

Gullotta House Presents ‘Escape from Sing Sing Plunge 2020’

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Saturday, February 15, 12 p.m. – 12:10 p.m at Louis Engel Park Beach in Ossining

A Benefit to Help Westchester Residents Facing Hardships

Much Needed Funds Will be Raised for Scholarships Supporting Local High School Seniors

By Grace Bennett

Get ready, get set… everyone is invited to join the fun and take the Escape from Sing Sing plunge at beautiful Louis Engel Park Beach in Ossining! You’ll be helping to benefit Westchester residents facing hardships and raise some much needed dollars for local high school scholarships too, thanks to the efforts of the Gullotta House, an an all volunteer organization and all its sponsors supporting this now third annual event. Matthew Gullotta asks that each participant commit to raising at least $100. The event will take place on February 15th, 12 p.m.-12:10 p.m.. 

There’s a happy pay off too for each courageous plunger: “When you raise $125 it gets you a long sleeved event shirt!” says Gullotta.

In fact, there are a whole range of benefits to becoming a sponsor, too, at the $50, $250 and $500 and up levels (which includes a three minute talk about your business at the event!). Find out more by emailing your team or businesses name, or your individual or family interest to gullottahouse@gmail.com. To sponsor this event or a person, visit www.gullottahouse.org

Please note: Everyone must wear sneakers or water shoes and sign waivers. Costumes are allowed. Most important: HAVE FUN!     

 

Grace Bennett is founder, publisher and editor in chief of the Inside Press since 2003.

Inside Press is a proud media sponsor of ‘Escape from Sing Sing Plunge 2020’ 

AERIAL PHOTO BY JIM DROHAN

True Beauty at Fundraising Event for Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital

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Cheryl Lynch with the singers from One Voice who preformed at the event. Photo by Susan Balsam

 

Champagne, hors d’oeuvres, flowing gowns and all things beautiful set the scene at the Tamarack Country Club in Greenwich, CT on Saturday November 30th. Every detail was attended to at the highly anticipated 20th annual fundraiser to support the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital Children’s Cancer Fund (CCF). Beauty was the unofficial theme of the night: dazzling people, décor and music filled the venue.

CCF Fashion Show Photo by Susan Balsam

Cheryl Lynch, owner of Cherylyn Salon in Armonk, is known for providing luxury spa and beauty services. Her salon has won many accolades. As evident in the décor of her business and the quality of aesthetic services she provides, she is truly an expert on what is visually appealing. But Lynch’s concept extends far beyond what the eye can see. Through the passion and dedication of her philanthropic work she personifies what it means to radiate beauty both inside and out.

Over 320 people joined Lynch, and her husband and co-host Jeff, to support the CCF’s dedication to raising awareness for Pediatric Cancer and Blood Diseases. Funds raised went to support patients and their families and research programs at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, located in Valhalla and a member of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network.

Drinks flowed throughout the cocktail hour as guests casually mingled. When the doors to the main dining room opened, patrons were delighted by a heartwarming performance by the talented young singers from the music group One Voice. Channel 12 news correspondent Annalisa Klebers emceed the event.

Subdued elegance gave way to an upbeat vibe. The partakers “let their hair down” as a lively fashion show entertained the crowd; clothes were provided by area boutiques. Sequins, taffeta and silk filled the room. The evening was a culmination of style, community and purpose. Every detail was flawlessly planned and executed, including both live and silent auctions and a dessert buffet complete with cookies shaped like dresses and shoes.

Lynch brings the same passion to this cause as she does to her salon. She advises to “never give up…each penny makes a difference and every prayer is appreciated”. Lynch’s actions remind us that true beauty radiates from the inside.

The kindness and generosity of the evening proved to be contagious when Michael Fareri, whose family built the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, made a surprise donation of $30,000 which covered the cost of the event’s dinner thereby vastly increasing the funds donated to the CCF.

For more information on CCF of Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital: www.thechildrenscancerfund.org

For more information on Cherylyn Salon: www.cherylynsalon.com

Sabra Staudenmaier resides in Chappaqua and is a frequent contributor to Inside Press publications. 

Michael Douglas Holds Court at Jacob Burns Film Center Silver Screen Circle Dinner

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Academy Award-winning actor Michael Douglas was the guest of honor at the Jacob Burns Film Center (JBFC) annual Silver Screen Circle dinner held on November 13 at the Film Center in Pleasantville. Douglas and JBFC Board President Janet Maslin were on stage to entertain the audience with film clips and conversation before the seated dinner. 

PHOTOS BY Russell Peborde

Actor Michael Douglas and Jacob Burns Film Center Board President, Janet Maslin
Jeff Geller (Chappaqua – L), Susan Habermann (Water Mill), Frank Linde (Chappaqua), and Debbie Geller (Chappaqua – R)
Kate Lombardi (Chappaqua – L) with Bob Battel (Rye) and Amy Linde (Chappaqua)
Richard Rieger (Bedford – R), Michelle Kraushaar (Chappaqua) and Robert Harwood (Dobbs Ferry)
Abby Rosmarin (Chappaqua), David Schunter (Armonk) and Flo Wiener (Pleasantville)
President and CEO of The Westchester Bank John Tolomer (Chappaqua –L), John Holzinger (North Salem) Liz Tolomer (Chappaqua) and Jackie Holzinger (Chappaqua – R)
Academy award winning actor Michael Douglas with Judah Kraushaar (Chappaqua)

Feeding Westchester Celebrates 30th Anniversary

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& Launches Mobile Food Pantry in Partnership with Pace University This Fall

It’s been a busy fall for Elmsford-based nonprofit Feeding Westchester (formerly known as the Food Bank for Westchester). The non-profit just celebrated 30 years with their fundraiser “An Evening in Good Taste” this past October. The event featured cocktails and cuisine from more than 30 Westchester-based chefs including local favorite Beau Widener, the Executive Chef at Crabtree’s Kittle House Restaurant & Inn.

Beau Widener Executive Chef at Crabtree Kittle House Restaurant and Inn and staff delight fundraiser attendees with their delicacies at “An Evening In Good Taste” Photo by Stacey Pfeffer

This fall also saw the introduction of a new Mobile Food Pantry in partnership with Pace University. Pace President Marvin Krislov attended the first mobile food pantry event on September 27 and spoke with student volunteers who participated by passing out produce to students and local residents.

Noelani Rivera, a first-year student at Pace said, “It was a really great experience to be able to help others, especially people so closely tied to our community.”

Tyler Kalahar, program coordinator at Pace’s Center for Community Action and Research in the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, said the new mobile food pantry was in keeping with Pace University ‘s position as a leader in economic mobility in higher education. “Addressing hunger with the mobile food pantry program is simply another way to give students, particularly our first generation and students from low-income families, the resources they need to succeed in college,” Kalaher explained.

The mobile pantry visited the Pace campus on Halloween and November 27th. The next visit is scheduled for December 13th from 12:30-2:30 p.m. The program hopes to provide nourishing, stigma-free food in a location that is accessible to both students and the wider Westchester community.

The mobile food pantry is located at Pace University, 861 Bedford Road, Pleasantville, entrance 3, North Hall parking lot.

(L-R): Cornell Craig (Assistant Dean and Director, Multicultural Affairs and Diversity Programs at Pace), Zikomo Barr (Coordinator, Leadership Programs at Pace), Olivia Wint (Pace student volunteer), Natalie Holguin (Pace student volunteer), Marvin Krislov (Pace President), Tyler Kalahar (Program Coordinator, Center for Community Action and Research at Pace), Nicole Dobson (Feeding Westchester), Noelani Rivera (Pace student volunteer)
PHOTO COURTESY OF FEEDING WESTCHESTER

The Power of Feeding Westchester

1 in 5 Westchester residents do not know where their next meal is from.

Feeding Westchester provided:

  • 8.4 million lbs of food = 7 million meals
  • 2.2 million lbs of food provided to nearly 200,000 people through mobile food programs
  • Distributed over 432,000 lbs of food to over 3,000 seniors through their Senior Grocery Program
  • Grew local produce at 13 farm sites through their Food Growing Program
  • Partnered with more than 290 agencies across Westchester to feed the hungry

Source: Feeding Westchester 2017 Annual Report

An Invite to the Blum Sisters’ Lemonade Stand: June 9!

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 On Saturday, June 9th, the Blum Sisters’ Lemonade Stand will be at the Chappaqua Farmer’s Market, providing a great chance to indulge in a thirst quenching summer beverage. This is the fifth year that founders Rebecca (age 13) and her sister Jenna (age 10) are operating the stand, continuing their quest to raise money for childhood cancer research. This year the girls are once again squeezing hundreds of lemons in order to meet their goal of raising $2,000, which will go straight to the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation is an organization that was founded by Alex Scott, a four year old cancer patient who began a series of successful lemonade stands to help other kids with cancer. She managed to raise over one million dollars prior to her death at age eight and created a movement that continues to this day. Following Alex’s successful Formula, the Blum sister’s decided to create a stand in which they placed no set price on a cup of lemonade, rather accepting any amount that each person was able and willing to donate.

Recently, the girls dedicated the stand to their Grandfather (Papa Neil), who passed away due to brain cancer in 2016. Holly Blum, mother of the two sisters, states that their Papa “would be really proud of the girls,” especially since they have managed to raise over $6,000 over the past five years. So come support the Blum Sister’s this Saturday, and help these two kids make a big difference!

Derek Rosen (HGHS Class of ’17) is an intern for the Inside Press this summer. In September, Derek will be entering his sophomore year at Syracuse University, where he is majoring in communications.