SARATOGA SPRINGS >> Of the many galas and parties in the Spa City, the annual “Touched by an Angel” fundraiser is truly a standout.
The event raises money for the Community Hospice of Saratoga and Thursday’s fundraiser was another hugely successful one, with more than 500 guests in attendance and fundraising totals around $130,000.
You can feel the support from the community for this event from the second you walk through the doors of the National Dance Museum. Darling girls dressed as angels welcomed each guest as is the tradition for this party, and some of the greeters included Jeanne Jerome, Aileen and Finola Klaus, Isabelle and Sarah Pipino and Kendra Teator.
With well over 100 local businesses donating everything from flowers to food for the night, the offerings for guests were impressive. Some of the culinary standouts included pieces of scrumptious pork belly from the Brook Tavern, sinfully rich macaroni and cheese from Maestro’s, smoked salmon canapés from Prime and mini crab cakes from Circus Café.
With no auctions or presentations, guests were free to mingle and catch up with friends while enjoying everything the evening had to offer. Barbara Ecker from Community Hospice did a marvelous job coordinating the hardworking volunteers who are clearly the backbone of this magical evening.
Spotted mingling in the crowd were Allison and David Meyers, Mike and Margaret Roohan, Shauna Sutton and Therese and Sean Connolly. Jim Murphy and Patti Riggi also were in attendance, as well as Diane Lloyd, Tamara Valentine, Carrie and Scott Van Kloberg, Deborah Iuliano and Chuck Martin, Rachel and Tommy Uccellini and John Witt.
If you haven’t attended Touched by an Angel yet, save the date for next October and come enjoy this lovely evening.
Fundraiser celebrates cinema opening
SARATOGA SPRINGS >> Locals certainly came out in style to walk the red carpet at the Criterion Cinemas grand-opening event last week, which doubled as a fundraiser for Saratoga Hospital’s Community Health Center.
It seemed as if the whole city turned out Thursday to welcome the new sleek and glossy theater, built by Bonacio Construction, which boasts a 2,000-square-foot screen, leather rocking seats and 30,000 watts of surround sound.
Sonny Bonacio and his wife, Julie, arrived with their children — Gianna, Will and Luca — all looking spectacular. Julie looked like a movie star in a black and gold “Origami” gown by designer Don O’Neill of THEIA, specially ordered for her for the occasion by Saratoga Trunk.
The red carpet saw some major action that evening, including Todd Shimkus, sporting a bowtie as a nod to the new cinema’s moniker; Jasper Alexander and his wife, Beth, wearing a Marc Bouwer gown; Angelo and Kate Calbone; Brian and Heather Straughter; Susan and Jeffrey Halstead; Michele Madigan; Lidia Bazar; Michele Funiciello; Gayle LaSalle; Joe and Gloria Dalton; and more as the theater began to fill up inside. Ron and Michele Riggi arrived, with Michele decked out in a THEIA Celtic Scrolled crunchy bead gown by Saratoga Trunk, and Patty Riggi and Sandy Foley were spotted chatting over a bag of popcorn. Amy Raimo was seen in a Kay Unger’s chandelier dress, and the Tattlers saw Carol Chauvin on the carpet in a scintillating silver fringed beaded cocktail dress from THEIA/Saratoga Trunk. Rick Partyka arrived in a limo with Natalie Sillery, and inside, the Tattlers bumped into Rebecca Beers, Dan Houtz, and Catherine Hover, who couldn’t wait to see the inside of the brand new theater.
Mingling became a contact sport as the crowd swelled with supporters, who sipped on cocktails and sampled some bites from local restaurants that donated time and services to the benefit, such as Chianti IL Ristorante, Hidden Gardens, Kim Klopstock’s Lily and the Rose, Longfellows Restaurant, Maestro’s at the Van Dam, Mazzone Hospitality, Olde Bryan Inn, Plum Dandy, Price Chopper, Saratoga Casino & Raceway, Saratoga Eagle Sales & Service, Skidmore College, Spot Coffee, Thirsty Owl, Village Pizzeria and Ristorante and Villago Pizzeria and Ristorante.
Topping off the celebration, Sonny and Julie Bonacio donated $24,000 for the Saratoga Community Health Center, and with nearly 600 people in attendance, the event was certainly a fitting welcome to our community.
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