Mouthwatering aromas wafted from the Canfield Casino on Tuesday, October 22, as the March of Dimes celebrated its 75th anniversary at the “Signature Chefs Auction.” The annual spread brings together local chefs, caterers, restaurants and bakeries supporting the organization’s mission to give babies a healthier start at life.
This year’s event, chaired by Joanne DiMarco and Angela Beddoe, honored Dave Vanderzee of Vanderzee Financial. Vanderzee has been an active volunteer for over 30 years, as well as a Northeastern New York chapter board member. He was recognized with the 2013 Distinguished Volunteer Award for his extraordinary contributions.
Close to 225 guests bid on silent and live auction items while enjoying dishes prepared by the Gideon Putnam, The Inn at Erlowest, Portofino’s and DZ Restaurants, among others. The evening culminated with an ‘Iron Chef’ competition, emceed by Chad O’Hara of B95.5 and YNN’s Dan Eaton. The chopping, sautéing and cooking was fierce, but in the end, Executive Chef Fabrizio Bassani of Chianti Il Ristorante was ‘plated’ the winner.
Thanks to Mission Sponsor Community Care Physicians–Division of Pediatrics, Secret Ingredient Sponsor King Arthur Flour and countless other donors, the auction raised $55,000 for the March of Dimes, Northeastern New York.
Stricken with polio himself, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt founded the March of Dimes in 1938 to defeat the crippling disease. Success came with the Salk vaccine in 1955, and in the decades to follow, the organization helped to stamp out rubella, pushed for regionalized newborn intensive care, funded the development of surfactant therapy and other lifesaving treatments, promoted folic acid to prevent neural tube defects and brought newborn screening to every baby. More than four-million babies are born in the United States each year, and the March of Dimes has helped every one of them through research, education and vaccine development. To learn more, visit www.marchofdimes/newyork.com.
Movers and Cocktail Shakers
More than 100 were seen “Sipping for Seniors” at Javier’s last Thursday, October 24. Local celebrity bartenders bringing in the bucks included John Witt, Tina Nigro, Lisa Gabryshak, Ryen Van Hall, Janet Franco, Jenny Witte and Dimitri Khazan.
The benefit raised $2,100 for the Adult & Senior Center of Saratoga, thanks to sippers and tippers in the crowd. Among them were Mark Hogan, Teddy Foster, Joanne Wheelock, Elizabeth Macy, Ray Bryan, Soula and Spiro Tsitos, Amy Snider, Staci Snider, Clover Schwartz, Natalie Sillery, Rick Partyka, Jayne McCarthy, Lisa and Tim Higgins, Tommy Uccellini, Brendan O’Hara, Kerry Murray, Liz O’Brien and Kelly Ragan, recovering from her appendix surgery earlier in the week.
Cindy and Brien Hollowood joined Mary Flaherty to cheer on her husband, Rich, behind the bar, while Jeff Halstead and Brian Straughter kept the drink orders flowing for their bartending wives, Susan and Heather.
The last-minute fundraiser was a necessity for the center to successfully close out the year.
“We had to close down unexpectedly for three weeks in August,” stated executive director Lois Celeste. “It started with a leak and the damage led to mold, forcing the closure and significantly impacting our programs, participation and revenue.”
“I approached Javier Rodriguez and he graciously agreed to help. We’re so grateful for his enthusiastic support, and for all of the bartenders and guests who stepped in and stopped by.”
Unmasked Support
Children were the focus of another party held last Thursday. Close to 150 donned masks and costumes for a festive Halloween Masquerade Ball at Saratoga National Golf Club. The event was the sixth annual celebration for the Capital Region Office of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children/New York Branch (NCMEC).
Chair Linda Palazzole, dressed as the Queen of Hearts, welcomed guests with her husband, Sam, chair of the Capital Region NCMEC Board of Advisors. Clicky, the mascot for internet safety, circulated in the lobby amid local law enforcement officers on hand to provide valuable information on child safety, stranger danger and more.
Upstairs, Wilma Flintstone (aka Lisa Shepard) shopped the silent auction as Alice in Wonderland (Katie Killian) chatted with friends nearby. Others spotted were Patty and Vince Riggi, Farrah and Bryan Dambro, Christine and David Geliebter, Lynne and Dennis Crimi, Donna Arini, Chris Naughton, James Bogdan and Morgan Kelly. Officer Johnny Rich joined the crowd with his colleagues from the Hudson Falls Police Department: Chief Randy Diamond, Sergeant John Kibling and Officer Brandon Kommer.
Also in attendance were members of the Frear, Lyall, Heiber and Reyes Families, all families of missing children. Several board members were seen too, including Yono and Donna Purnomo, Kevin Johnson, Ed Evers, David Fallon, Melanie Grossman, William Hawkins, John Kelly, William Leege, Gary Mattison, Edward Moore and Bob Quick.
Cocktails led to a delicious seated dinner, prepared by the talented team at Mazzone Hospitality, and the evening’s program. WRGB-CBS 6 anchor Liz Bishop served as Mistress of Ceremonies.
The Capital Region’s first-ever John Walsh Award was presented to Michael Giovanone, President and CEO of Concord Pools and Spas. The civilian award recognizes an individual who has exhibited a long-standing and significant impact on NCMEC’s mission to prevent the abduction and exploitation of children in the Capital Region.
“There are many dedicated people we considered for our inaugural John Walsh Award,” said Sam Palazzole. “But Mike Giovanone has consistently proven his commitment to the protection of children in the 11 counties we serve. He is a founding member of NCMEC’s Capital Region Advisory Board, an active solicitor for the organization’s fundraising efforts, and a very generous contributor of his time and money. He consistently helps to raise community awareness of NCMEC’s mission and has shown tremendous dedication to the protection of children.”
Lieutenant Laura Emanatian, Saratoga Police PBA 2012 Officer of the Year, was the gala’s keynote speaker. Lt. Emanatian has been trained in Internet crimes and investigative techniques, and her presentation centered on her work as an undercover chat room officer, working to identify and apprehend online child predators.
Sam Palazzole remarked, “If parents only do one thing to protect their children, it should be to find out on a regular basis where they are on the Internet and who they are talking to. Child predators are ingenious at preying on kids.”
The program lightened with a live auction run by Mike Smith of Cherry Tree Auctions and the much-anticipated costume contest. This year’s winners were Dan and Donna Barber, dressed as a couple of clowns; Andrew Grazulis in his scary ‘phantom’ garb; the original Mad Hatter, Frank Mitola; and funny Fred Flintstone, Dan Shepard.
At the end of the night, almost $70,000 was raised to advance NCMEC’s mission to help prevent child abduction and sexual exploitation; help find missing children; and assist victims of abduction and sexual exploitation, their families, and the professionals who serve them. Special recognition for this success goes to New Country Toyota, Saratoga Casino & Raceway, Price Chopper, Saratoga Builders, Gallivan Corporation, Lavelle & Finn, Freihofer’s, Turbine Services and Olya Szyjka.
Approximately 2,300 children are reported missing in the Capital Region every year, and over 20,000 children in New York State. NCMEC’s recovery rate is 97.5 percent, up from 62 percent in 1990. This Halloween fundraising event is dedicated to supporting the recovery and prevention work of a myriad of law enforcement and other professionals who work on missing children cases specific to the 11 counties of the Capital Region, including Albany, Columbia, Fulton, Greene, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren and Washington counties. To learn more, visit www.ncmecnycr.org.
