Have you ever thrown a Surprise Party?   Was it a success?  Was the Secret kept?  Was the recipient surprised?

Well on Tuesday night Gotham held it’s annual Holiday Party and we did it all as surprises abounded!

By my count there were at least 7 surprises and it was just great, as it’s always better to surprise than be surprised.
The first surprises were the announcement of our 2019 Networkers of the Year:  Shelley Simpson (Business Breakfast Group) and Robert Esposito (South Florida Group).

Next came the announcement of the Gotham Foundation Season of Giving Grants to Tonichei Shabbos of Queens (Bernie Dolington/Towers Group), American Music Therapy Association (Janet Sullivan/Health and Longevity Group), Habitat For Humanity (Raj Goel/Construction Group) and Helene Spizz Memorial Scholarship (Norm Spizz/Make A Difference Group).  Norm is pictured as he learned the good news and he sure looks happy!

Last and best of all was the Red Bandanna Award, Gotham’s highest honor in memory of Welles Remy Crowther who died a hero on 9/11.

The Red Bandanna recipient is honored for his or her self sacrifice and giving in the manner of Welles.

This year’s recipient is Mitch Tobol, Gotham’s Webmaster, who did not have a clue it was coming and, even more, his wife Pam was in on it and was there to witness and share it with Mitch.  He was so surprised!

It was just great!  Who says I can’t keep a secret?