My heartfelt thanks to the wonderful Manhasset and Port Washington communities for all their contributions to the great success of Help Us Help Kids. This craft beer and food-tasting benefit for Make-A-Wish® Metro New York was hosted at the wonderful Louie’s Oyster Bar & Grille on Jan. 29 and exceeded all of our fundraising expectations.
I have lived in this community for over two decades and know it to be a very kind and charitable one. My experience with this event proved that once again, and the generosity I witnessed was simply overwhelming. Friends I have known since the days of my sons’ baseball, soccer and crew teams gathered to obtain raffle donations and make this a sold-out event. Mike McGlynn at Louie’s Oyster Bar & Grille and his distributors contributed craft beer and spectacular seafood, allowing 100% of the funds raised to go directly to Make-A-Wish Metro New York. More than 25 local businesses generously donated raffle prizes so we could raise even more money to help wishes come true: Café Continental, Manhasset Nail & Spa, Ryde@EPhysique, Raindew, Wheatley Beauty, A&F Prime Butcher Shop, Starbucks, Salon Pop, Spa Dieci, Trapani Art & Frame, Louie’s Manhasset, Christina’s Epicure, Bow-Tie Cinema, Paul Anthony Aesthetics, Bob’s Photo, Strength Length Tone, Forest Pork, Iavarone Brothers, Equinox, La Coquille, Pure-Barre, Buttercooky Bakery, Periwinkle Boutique, Barrel & Grapes, Young’s Fine Wines & Spirits, Studio Salon, Power 10, De Lis Salon, PGA Tour Super Store and Pets Boutique.
What makes our town such a very special place to live was at its very best that night. And because of that, more kids with life-threatening medical conditions will dream big, fight hard and believe in the magic of a dream come true. I was humbled and blessed to be a part of that.
—Gina LoBello
