The cause matters in Mineola. For organizers of Night on the Town, a gala event honoring community pillars and charities with a evening of great food and fun, the fifth annual April 23 event is looking to surpass its fundraising goal of $100,000 to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Long Island (LLSLI). Last year’s event topped off at $70,000. LLSLI benefited from the last four galas.
“In the past, we almost had to beg restaurants to join our cause,” Piccola Bussola owner and event coordinator Tony Lubrano said. “Now, it’s going to be our fifth year doing it. The word has gotten out of what a powerful event it is. Now we have restaurants calling us.”
Lubrano’s family, specifically his late father, Pasquale, was affected by leukemia. His dad passed away in 1991 after battling the illness for 15 years. LLSLI is stepping up its presence this year, with 40 staff members manning the event.
“They are gung-ho in supporting the event,” Lubrano said. “We did the best we could do going with the seat of our pants. But [LLSLI] is the complete opposite. They brought their own ideas and made the event much smoother.”
The 2014 extravaganza marked the second recipients of the Pasquale Lubrano Community Service Award to the event’s honorees, Senator Jack Martins and CPA Michael Costa. This year, Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano and H2M Architect David Mammina will be bestowed the honor.
“Last year, [Mangano] showed up to honor two veterans,” Lubrano said. “He was so impressed he stayed until the end. He probably gets asked to be at events every night of the year.”
For more photos from last year’s Night On the Town event, click here.
Mammina, who’s been very active with LLSLI since 2001, struck Lubrano as a “tireless fundraiser” who lost his brother-in-law to leukemia a number of years ago.
“He’s dedicated so much of his time to this,” said Lubrano.
Night on the Town originally supported the Corpus Christi School. A one-year hiatus occurred when the school was closing and Lubrano approached co-chairman Harry Zapiti for help on a charity event to raise money for leukemia, giving Night on the Town the rebirth it needed.
“Anytime you can bring people together for a good cause…it’s a wonderful thing,” Zapiti said.
Sponsored by the United Mavericks, a networking group of local business people, Night on the Town has hit its stride more than ever, says Zapiti.
The 2015 rendition of Night on the Town will see the likes of Johnny Avino sing a few tunes as well as Tom Giulani and Edward de Corsia’s New York’s Most Dangerous Big Band perform classics from all eras.
“Everyone really stepped up this year,” says Maverick Nicholas Valastro. “This night will be one to remember.”
Silent auctions will be held for various sports/celebrity memorabilia, including guided tours and lunch at either Yankee Stadium with former players Reggie Jackson or Mariano Rivera, or at Citi Field with Dwight Gooden.
A slew of restaurants will cater the event, including Andrea’s 25, Churrasqueira Bairrada, Becco, Vinoco, Piccola Bussola, DiMaggio’s Trattoria, Cirella’s, City Cellar, Eric’s Italian Bistro, Eleanor Rigby’s, Rothmann’s Steakhouse, Memories Bar and Grill, Mio Posto, Empire Rockefeller, 388 Restaurant, Uncle Bacala’s, Vincent’s Clam Bar, Piccolo’s, Piccola Bussola, P.J. Clarke’s, Vinoco, Heart of Portugal, Frantoni’s, Cardinali Bakery, Jericho Terrace, Ciao Baby, Gelato King and Novita.
Tickets are $100 per person and are available at www.nightonthetown.lls.org or contact Michelle Demetillo at 631-370-7558 or Michelle.Demetillo@LLS.org. A select group of tickets for Mineola senior citizens for $25.
