Mount Sinai
School of Medicine’s
Center for
Multicultural and Community Affairs
and
Jazzmobile,
Inc
held their
first time collaborative
fundraising event at
Harlem’s Uptown Grand on
Thursday, November 11 and the night was
truly
magical.
“The Signature Event” honorary co-chair,
Earvin “Magic” Johnson, surprised
everyone and raised a fast $20,000 in under
10 minutes by auctioning his own seats to a
Laker’s game, along with the many VIP
privileges that come with it. He was joined
by his co-chair, New York State First Lady
Michelle
Paige Paterson who eloquently
spoke about the great work of the dual
historic organizations. Her husband,
Governor
David Paterson and
Congressman
Charles Rangel also greeted the
280 guests and spoke to the importance of
supporting cultural diversity and education
for youth living in disadvantaged
communities.
WNBC-TV’s
DeMarco
Morgan dynamically emceed the
evening which honored Jazz Master,
Dr.
Billy
Taylor for his music education
efforts in the Harlem community,
Melinda
Wolfe, Bloomberg LLP, for her
corporate diversity efforts.,
Dr. Angela
Diaz, Director of Mount Sinai’s
Adolescent Health Center for her commitment
to serving teens and young adults in the
community and
Dr. Ernest
Benjamin for his extraordinary
leadership and humanitarian efforts in the
MSMC Haiti Relief effort.
This unique
partnership demonstrates diverse facets of
healing – music for the mind and spirit and
traditional medical services for the body
itself. Funds raised support the community
programs of both organizations.