What A Great Day for Astor!
At 1 pm. Saturday on a perfect spring afternoon, friends of Astor Services for Children & Families poured into the Convent of the Sacred Heart where over 170 people were gathering around a silent auction, munching hors d’oeuvres, sipping cocktails and waiting for the doors to open for the 2nd Annual Come to the Cabaret to benefit the Lawrence F. Hickey Center for Child Development.
Magee Hickey, known for her warmth and bubbly personality, launched the concept of a cabaret/fundraiser involving many television reporters and anchors, singing and dancing and “kicking up” visibility for the Lawrence F. Hickey Center. Frank, sisters Elizabeth Lavin and Jane Hickey Sexton performed separately and together notching up the Hickey family involvement, an alternately touching and funny tribute to the their parents.
After the plates were scraped clean and the silent bids were taken, the lights went down, the music began, and the stars aligned! Yes, they were all there, on stage – having a blast with, and dazzling us with their energy and newly found avocations – courtesy of Magee’s talent roundup, but that is only a part of the story.
For months, our newscaster friends, their coaches and voice teachers were preparing for this event. In a blockbuster show of support, they came together to become a “tour de force” for the Lawrence F. Hickey Center. The outstanding lineup for Come to the Cabaret in order of performance was: Jodi Applegate; Kirstin Cole; Sukanya Krishna; Frances Rivera; Tamsen Fadal; Linda Church; Dan Mannarino; Greg Mocker ; Dr. Sapna Parikh; Kristin Thorne; Stephanie Tsofolias; Magee Hickey; Frank Hickey; Jane Hickey Sexton; Wally Zeins; Eileen Lehpamer; Vince Lipari; Allison Haunss; Joshua Johnson (tap dancer); Joan DiBlasi, Andy Kuntz and Jo- Ellen Bosson (Astor Staff and friend who played the Irish fiddle and drum); and Mariangely Guzman (four year old Astor student from the Hickey Center) who sang “Tomorrow.”
Now that is something!
After the last curtain call Dr. James McGuirk, Executive Director and CEO of Astor Services for Children & Families took the stage, and gave an emotional thanks to all, re-iterating how every one of the performers and the supporting cast are and will continue to be – champions of our organization!
It was a big afternoon for The Lawrence F. Hickey Center– we know everyone enjoyed every minute of the event, particularly as we sang together, The Very Thought of You, Mr. Hickey’s favorite song.
With the reviews in – we look forward to the 3rd Annual “Astor” Come to the Cabaret.