7th Annual Seaside Gala (continued)
Highlights of the evening included a live auction with winning bidders taking home activity-filled overnights in Boston, Providence and Newport and a family “Staycation” with more than a dozen tickets to area places and events. Guests signaled their bids with paddles featuring an actual 45RPM record from the Sixties.
Throughout the evening much attention was focused on a silent auction featuring 55 items ranging from five paintings by well-known area artists to tickets to see a Meet the Press taping, a Red Sox game, and the Newport Jazz Festival and Campbell Hall of Fame Tennis Tournament.
A delicious meal featuring Murray’s Statler Chicken, a Castle Hill Inn specialty, was enjoyed, while musicians strolled from table to table playing individual requests.
Ed Massa Music presented a lively set for dancing that included a special appearance by the Bandstand Dancers from Breaking Pointe Dance Studio in Fall River, MA, who showed off their talents on songs from the Swing Era to the Sixties, with many guests joining them on the dance floor.
Another highlight of the evening was the presentation of the 2010 EBCAP Vision Awards and Public Service Award. Receiving Vision Awards were:
Rhode Island Housing for its work helping EBCAP consumers in housing matters and for its assistance in obtaining the former St. Brendan’s Church Convent in East Providence for apartments for homeless individuals and families and a new Head Start Center.
Community College of Rhode Island for its work with Head Start and the Newport Skills Alliance and in providing AmeriCorps volunteers to EBCAP.
The Community Food Bank of Rhode Island for its work with the Newport Family and Child Opportunity Zone (NFCOZ) in providing backpacks filled with nutritious food and snacks and reduced price food for school vacation camps for children at the Sullivan School.
Dr. Joseph M. DiMase, a prominent Rhode Island gastroenterologist, developed and initiated a free colorectal screening program called SCUP (Screening Colonoscopy in the Underprivileged Population) for Rhode Island residents between the ages of 50 and 64 who are uninsured. Patients at EBCAP’s two health centers are served through the program.
Richard and Stella Witcher provided considerable support for the East Bay Coalition for the Homeless (EBCH) as generous donors to that organization’s annual Welcome Home dinner and in helping to initiate EBCH’s Brick Campaign to raise funds for the new Turner Avenue apartment project. Richard Witcher is co-owner and Chief Executive Officer of Minuteman Trucks, one of the region’s largest medium and heavy duty truck dealers.
Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy was the recipient of the third EBCAP Public Service Award in recognition of his immeasurable support over the years. Congressman Kennedy has been a staunch supporter of Head Start, WIC, low income home energy assistance and weatherization, as well as services for seniors and the homelessness --all programs that are part of the EBCAP network of services. Rep. Kennedy was unable to attend the presentation ceremony, but expressed his appreciation in a video that was shown at the Gala. Paula Bradley, of the Congressman’s Constituent Services staff, received the award.
The event, presented by EBCAP’s Development & Public Relations Department, received many positive comments from guests as the evening concluded. The major fund raising event of the year for EBCAP, it was a huge success with more than $34,000 received.
CEO Dennis Roy thanked the event’s sponsors, who included:
Double Platinum Sponsors: Castle Hill Inn and Resort and the Amy Klette
Newman Foundation.
Platinum Sponsors: Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island and Starkweather and Shepley Insurance Brokerage, Inc.
Gold Sponsors: Bradley Hospital, BankNewport, Advanced Catering, Inc., Contractors Network, LGC&D, Certified Public Accountants, EBS Econotel Business Systems, Inc., Chace, Ruttenberg and Freedman, LLP and IKON Office Solutions, Inc.
Mark your calendar for the 8th Annual Seaside Gala - Thursday, June 9, 2011 at Castle Hill Inn and Resort! We look forward to seeing you there.