More than 800 people arrived at the Glen Oaks Country Club in Old Westbury to support the JCC’s annual auction for excellence as it celebrated 20 years of fundraising. Flush with cash and ready to spend, guests got to bid in a silent auction on line while former mobsters from the hit show The Sopranos, Steve Schirripa and Tony Sirico acted as live auctioneers ready to relieve the guests of the rest of their cash for a good cause. The epicurean night featured food tastings from all over Long Island with 40 restaurants donating the food for the event. The 500 items for auction which ranged from gift baskets, to destination sites were also donated to help raise money for the JCC.
“This event raises money for all of our social service programs, those with Alzheimer’s and dementia, special needs children and adults and other people in our community who need help,” said Susan Banco, Associate Executive Director of the JCC. “We have a number of different programs for those with Alzheimer’s and dementia we have our young people’s program that starts at age 39 and goes to 60.We have another for 60 and over and we divide them according to their illness. We have a program 5 days a week thanks to this event.”
According to Banco, the event also helps raise scholarship money for camp Kehillia, for special needs children. The camp is social, recreational and therepeutic for little children, and vocational for older ones, helping them get job placements.
Debra Buslik, of East Hills had this comment, “I come to this event because I have been a member of the JCC for close to 35 years. It is my heart and soul and I am the past president of this agency. I think what we do for those who need makes me feel good when I look in the mirror at night.”
Newly elected President of the JCC, Michael Rosenbaum along with his wife Tammy commented on the night. “This is our annual auction for excellence, it’s very special because it is our 20th anniversary and is our single largest fundraiser of the year. The proceeds from this event will continue to help our social service programs that we offer to the community.”
Bill Greene of Tsontos Furs in Mineola donated a beautiful fur for the night. “I am a supporter and a donator. I have many customers that are supporters of the JCC and I am good friends of the Rosenbaums so I donated a beautiful fur Rex Jacket. I am happy to give things to the cause and it is a wonderful organization. I have been donating to this organization for 16 years.”
Publisher Angela Anton mingled with guests and explained why she supports the organization. “I have supported the JCC for many years because it is a good cause that does a lot of good for the community. I got really involved with Denise Silverberg and the Friendship circle. This event is fabulous, it raises money for the services that are so needed for the community.”
Guests had an opportunity to try the gamut of food from steaks, to fusion sushi, sake, cakes, Mexican , Italian, continental, to deep fried all while bidding on their smart phones for the silent auction items. It was a wonderful event of community spirit coming together to help those in need.
