Submitted by Fred on

Last Night's Holiday Party

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Lifestyle

Nothing personifies our Gotham mantra more than our Season of Giving initiative.   It is truly Better to give than receive, but what goes around comes around and it did last night at our Holiday Party! 

The Party was a rousing ("Best Ever") success with over 60 Gothamites in attendance.  So much transpired that space may not allow me to give it all justice, but try I will :)
 
I’m happy to announce that our Season of Giving initiative garnered contributions in a record-breaking amount of $21,000 and as a result, the Gotham Foundation was able to present 7 $3000 grants to the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation (Allison Orlando choice), Canine Companions For Independence (Rich Slomovitz choice), Aspiring Attitudes of Oklahoma City (Vincent Russo choice), Coalition For Hispanic Services (Dan Schwartz choice), The Glaucoma Foundation (Jeff Lewis choice), The Beljanski Foundation (Paul Napolitano choice) and West Side Campaign Against Hunger (Susan Zinder choice).
 
Gathering the $21,000 grant “pot” was such a community effort fueled by many many individual donors, the monthly gift matchers (Sharon and Raj Goel, Josh Zinder, Vincent Russo, Paul Napolitano, Jason Greenberg, and Ben Geizhals, and myself), Gotham credit card purveyor Marc Halpert donating all the credit card fees, Corey Bearak garnering $2500 through the Mets/Yankee ticket price and this year’s Closers Paul Napolitano, David Abeshouse and Norm Spizz whose final last-minute donations took us over the top to a record!
 
Thanks also go out to Gotham accountant Michael Garibaldi who picked the winners “out of the hat” and Lisa Waterman who screened them for compliance to Season of Giving rules. 
 
Congratulations also go to Paula Oleska, the first recipient of our new Rookie of the Year Award and Networkers of the Year and Westchester Group(our new “Hot Spot”) members “Reliable” Ray Walcott and Michael Steger.  Our highest Award, The Red Bandanna Award went to RitaSue Siegel.
 
So much giving and warranted receiving made me KVELL (a legal term)!!!
 
Last, but not least, thanks to Events Chair Norm (Vig) Spizz for putting on another “really big show”. 
 
Happy Holidays!
 
PS All past Season of Giving recipients (pictured) can also be viewed at www.Gothamfoundation.org
 

Comments

Submitted by Judy_Mauer on Thu, 12/09/2021 - 20:24

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Judy Mauer

So glad it was such a success
Victoria Drogin

Beautiful evening. Congrats everyone and to Rita Sue Seigel! Rita, watching your face when you won the Red Bandanna Award was priceless. You are a gem. And giving your time to help immigrants utilize the training and degrees they attsined in their countries of origin is truly profound.
Such fun and lovely energy in the air. We got off the call and felt so connected to our friends and people we love. Thank you Gotham For this beautiful community. (I was also touched by Scott Bloom‘s donation to cover all costs so our donations are 100% pass through…) Happy, happy Holidays snd New Year everyone.

Submitted by RoyFenichel on Thu, 12/09/2021 - 20:36

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Roy Fenichel, Esq.

Well done!
Daniel Schwartz

Congratulations to this years winners , all very well deserved. As the recipient of one of the Season of Giving checks for the Coalition for Hispanic Family Services, I am especially gratefull for the generosity Gotham offers. A great evening and a great reason to be part of Gotham.
Fred Klein

Paul’s introduction was so good that he now has an annual job :)
Paul Napolitano

Special night! Magic tricks, singing, kvelling! Thank you for the opportunity to introduce Rita Sue Seigel as the Red Bandana winner. She has so much class and grace and she was an extremely deserving winner.
Cayce Crown

Thank you for the recap! Hope it was recorded for those of us who couldn’t attend. So moved by everyone’s generosity, another year of fun and learning ahead. What goes around…
Ray Walcott

Fantastic Party, and it was well attended! I’m sorry I choked up but it was a surprise and honor to be considered for the co-networker of the year. Heart felt thanks to everyone that made the event a success!
Fred Klein

Well earned and amazing that you were surprised!
Fred Klein

2 of your videos were shown. Gotham history!
Paula Oleska

It was a beautiful event for a true community. I also KVELL because of my totally unexpected award. Thanks you to the nominators! ❤
Congratulations to all ;the recipients of donations. And appreciation to all the donors. This is what truly makes this organization different ❤ Happy to be here. Love to all!
Norman Spizz

Special thanks to those who helped make this event the success that it was. Mixologist Mitch Tobol, Videographer Cayce Crown,. Magician Steve Rodman, Zoom coordinator Ray Walcott. Season of Giving team Lisa Waterman and Michael Garibaldi. And a very special thank you to our sponsors
Gold Sponsor BrainLink International -Raj Goel
Silver Sponsor John Gallin & Son- Tom Gallin

Cocktail Sponsor CGT Marketing- Mitch Tobol

Event Sponsors
Raj & Sharon Goel
Josh Zinder
Vincent Russo
Jason Greenberg
Paul Napolitano
Ben Geizhals
Fred Klein
Ray Walcott
ODEY RAVIV

It was a night of warmth and caring for each other and the world! Gotham spirit in the air. Congrats to all the winners and thanks to Norm and all the others who worked hard to make the party happen.
Rona Gura

Being one of the past Season of Giving recipients is still a Gotham highlight for me.
Vincent Russo

I am amazed by the generosity of the Gotham members. Once again support the Gotham Foundation.
I was thrilled to learn that Aspiring Attitudes of Oklahoma City was selected one of the grant recipients.
This not for profit is very near and dear to me and our Theresa Foundation.
Shannon Wrights who is legally blind is the founder of this dance program for children with special needs is amazing.
Susan and I have witnessed first hand the magic of Shannon and her volunteers.
Thanks for making my Christmas Season with this donation.
Warm Regards,
Vincent

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