On Saturday, June 18th, The Boys & Girls Club
of Bellport Area (BGCBA)
held their 13th Annual Beach Ball at the gorgeous Bayfront
home of Alexandra Lebenthal and Jay Diamond. Over 550 people
attended the festive affair and by the end of the night the
event raised over $330,000, matching last years fundraising
total – the largest amount raised in Beach Ball history.
Hosted by Alexandra
Lebenthal and Jay
Diamond, guests included Charlie
Rose, who was the first person to arrive, Bob
Morris, Lucy
Danziger, Keith
Pollock, Maneesh
Goyal, Brian Ellner, Nick Scandalios and Debbie and Phil
Grucci.
As they arrived guests were treated to
cocktails and light bites provided by Abigail
Kirsch Catering Relationships. Midway
through, the
Club’s Executive Director Sybil
Mimy Johnson, thanked
"attendees, organizers, board of directors, sponsors and
staff for their work in producing such a fantastic event.
She continued to say, "tonight was about putting on a party
with a purpose, and the purpose is the BGCBA's
important mission that our youth reach their full
potential." She then introduced the club's Youth
of the Month Cameron Trent, who told guests that he had
"run for the school board in the past year, and that his
success so far, was only the beginning, but he would not
have been able to do it without the BGCBA."
Following the speeches, host committee member Terence
Noonan lead
the "Art of Summer" themed auction that boasted items
including an African Safari that sold for $5,500. Guests
were then escorted outside where they enjoyed an
awe-inspiring private show fromFireworks
by Grucci that
was donated by Alexandra Lebenthal after she won them in
last year's auction with a bid of $9,000. Immediately
following the show, guests then enjoyed a performance from
the BGCBA's dance
troop, Royal Nova. Over 40 youths aged 10-17 years performed
a synchronized routine to Pitbull's tracks, 'Fireball,' and
'All the Way Up.'
Additional
guests included Hwasoon and Michael
Mullaney – BGCBA
Board President,
Diane and Hank
Braun – BGCBA
Director, Barry Podgorsky –BGCBA
Beach Ball Chair and Director, Louann
Tuzza -
BGCBA Director. The BGCBA's host
committee also includesDana
Buchman –
designer, Amanda Burden, Francisco
Costa, Sir Colin
Callender CBE –
producer, Tricia
Foley –
lifestyle authority, Bruce
Pask and Isabella
Rossellini.
The BGCBA has
been operating since 1965. The Club serves over 850
members, between the ages of 5-19, and other youth through
various annual activities. Members are young people from
disadvantaged economic, social and family circumstances;
nearly three-quarters of household incomes are $19,000 or
less. All
proceeds from the Beach Ball contribute to the operating
expenses of the Boys & Girls Clubhouse and ensure that over
850 children, ages 5 through 19 have a safe place to learn,
grow and most importantly, feel a sense of belonging and
community. Please visit http://www.bgcbellport.org for
further details.