| Faces of the Red Cross at Cabaret & Cuisine 2007 | |
A child holding a teddy bear following a house fire. A servicewoman in Germany clutching an emergency message from home. A teenager diving into the water to save the life of another. A donor. A volunteer. Maybe you.
These are some of the images and people who are the foundation of "Faces of the Red Cross at Cabaret & Cuisine 2007" to benefit the Greater Lehigh Valley Red Cross. The organization's largest fund-raising event will be held Saturday, March 31, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., at The Eastonian at the Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, 90 Kunkle Drive in Easton.
"Fund-raising events such as this one enable the Red Cross to continue to be there for those in need," said Sandy Gaspar, director of development and community affairs at the Red Cross. "This has been a particularly challenging year for us for disaster relief. Our disaster response has increased 35 percent compared to the same time period last year. Red Cross has helped more than 500 men, women and children in our community who were affected by a disaster during the past eight months."
Mike Caruso, founder and president of Caruso Benefits Group, is this year's honorary chairman. Caruso was recently selected as Outstanding Philanthropist by the Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. "Mike is known throughout the Lehigh Valley for his generosity and dedication to many organizations in the greater Lehigh Valley. We are privileged to have him as our honorary chair," Gaspar said.
In keeping with the Cabaret theme, The Eastonian's banquet room will be transformed into a European boulevard and garden. Food cafés will be fashioned with red-and-white stripped awnings, white lattice backdrops and red linen-draped serving tables. Red and white checkered tablecloths, potted red geraniums, and ficus trees and floral arrangements atop European columns will complement the garden and walkway throughout the room.
The décor construction was the brainchild of Linda Nabb, chairwoman of the Cabaret & Cuisine Committee, and Jim Parry, committee member. "We wanted to create a look and feel that says fun, laughter and good times. That's what a cabaret is all about … a big party."
The business-casual evening will include an array of foods prepared by chefs from leading caterers and establishments in the greater Lehigh Valley. To date, Simply Smooth, Cathy's Creative Catering, Royal Gourmet Foods, the Buckeye Tavern, the Holiday Inn Conference Center, Karen Hunter, and Starter's Riverport have signed on to appeal to everyone's taste buds. Kiffle Kitchen and Granny Schmidt's Bake Shop and Café will finish the main fare with mouthwatering desserts.
Complimentary beer, wine and soda will be served; a cash bar will be available.
Lucky 7, a popular local band, will bring its complement of vocals and instruments for dancing and listening pleasure.
Red Cross Executive Director John Hughes and Caruso will provide brief remarks during the evening. In addition, Cathy Perna, donor and long-time volunteer, will share her personal testimonial about how the Red Cross helped her and her family following a house fire.
Patrons will have a chance to bid on silent auction items such as overnight stays at Sayre Mansion's new carriage house; the Hampton Inn (which includes dinner for two, wine, chocolate strawberries and a winery tour); and Caesars Pocono Resorts; a Martin Guitar backpacker guitar; foursome golf passes; dinner theater tickets; gift certificates to popular local restaurants, and more.
In addition, patrons will be able to make a donation to "purchase" Red Cross products and services such as blankets or toiletry items for disaster victims; a month's subscription to Lifeline, a 24-hour personal medical alert system for seniors and the physically challenged; or a babysitter's training class for a teen. All proceeds will benefit the chapter.
Cost is $100 per person. Corporate sponsorships are available. For an invitation or more information, contact Sandy Gaspar at 610) 865-4400, ext. 259, or gaspars@usa.redcross.org or visit www.redcrosslv.org.
Committee members are: Chairwoman Linda Nabb, Dream Events; Victoria Penske Aitchison, community volunteer; Laura Azzalina, Sovereign Bank; Desty Bonstein, Embassy Bank; Jennifer Castellano and Jenn Gora of The Express-Times; Winnie DiLeo Melinsky and Jane Stone of Highmark Blue Shield; Karen Mesch, Karen Mesch Event Planner & Caterer; Jim Parry, Jim Parry Designs; Cathy Perna, Perna & Associates Mortgage Solutions; Betsy Torrence, community volunteer; and Sandy Gaspar, Beth McKinney, and Janice Osborne of the American Red Cross.
Major sponsors (as of Feb. 26): KNBT; Highmark Blue Shield; Mack Trucks; The Express-Times; UGI Utilities; Crayola, LLC; Jim Parry Designs; Lafayette Ambassador Bank; Leber Financial Group, Inc.; Sovereign Bank; Target Select Cable, LLC; and Tuskes Homes.
The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley serves more than 660,000
residents of Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties. Last year the Red Cross
provided health and safety education training; Lifeline, a personal response
service for seniors; and emergency relief to more than 23,000 Greater Lehigh
Valley residents. For more information about the American Red Cross of the
Greater Lehigh Valley or volunteer opportunities, call (610) 865-4400 or visit
www.redcrosslv.org.