Despite a imminent snowstorm, 250 people attended the Boys & Girls Club’s largest fundraiser, City Chic, Thursday,March 7th, at The Stamford Sheraton. Rick Redniss, Redniss & Mead and GE Asset Management were honored at this year’s event featuring emcee WABC-TV’s Dr. Bill Evans. Presenting Sponsors were The Ashforth Company, Eurest and Purdue Pharma.
Governor Dannel Malloy kicked off the event with a surprise appearance and issued honorary proclamations to Rick Redniss and Redniss & Mead, and Dudley Williams, GE Asset Management Director of Corporate Citizenship, and to Don Torey, GE Asset Management's President of Alternative Investments.
Vin Kiernan, Boys & Girls Club of Stamford’s Board President and Mike Cotela, Executive Director, presented the Club’s Awards to this year’s honorees. Rick Redniss, Redniss & Mead, was given The BGCS "2013 Guardian of the Community Award". GE Asset Management was presented the "2013 Corporate Partnership Award" accepted by Dudley Williams.
Kiernan said, "Redniss & Mead is being honored for their company’s longtime support of The Boys & Girls Club of Stamford, for the leadership of Rick Redniss serving as President of The Boys & Girls Club Foundation and the Club’s Board of Directors as Vice President. Rick established the Club’s first major fundraiser which became “City Chic”. His firm has given the Club pro bono services throughout the years overseeing the construction and continue capital improvements to The Mary C. Rich Clubhouse." Rick Redniss was also awarded the National Medallion of The Boys & Girls Club of America.
Rick Redniss announced future plans for the Club,"We are embarking on Phase Three of construction of a gym addition, which we desperately need for our older children."
Mike Cotela, BGCS Executive Director said that "GE was being honored for their longtime support of The Boys & Girls Club of Stamford dating back to the construction days of the current Mary C. Rich Clubhouse. The company’s generous contributions to The Club include not only financial support, but countless hours of volunteer service work by many of its employees." GE is the Presenting Sponsorship of Project Learn, the after school homework tutoring program of The Boys & Girls Club of Stamford. Dudley Williams has been involved with the education programs of The Boys & Girls Club for many years, and Don Torey is a member of the Club’s Board of Directors.
Karyn Ward, The Ashforth Company, once again chaired “City Chic”. Ward announced at the Awards Presentation, "Despite an imminent storm, we are pleased to announce that this year's City Chic has surpassed all revenue goals, netting over $200,000 for the after school programs of The Boys & Girls Club of Stamford."
Michael Svagdis, Eurest CEO, was the Event Auction Chair and provided 5 nationally acclaimed chefs from his company to create and serve creative cuisine from five Chic American Cities. Svagdis is a former Boys & Girls Club member and is actively involved on the Stamford Club's Board of Directors.
Christine Larsen, BGCS Chief Development Officer, and Stephanie Block, BGCS Development Operations, directed and produced the event. Larsen, a veteran fundraiser, credited the event sponsors with generating the $200,000 in net profits, and thanked them at The Awards Presentation for their longtime and generous support.
George Ferris, The Ashforth Company was the event graphic designer,Kim DePra managed event marketing, and Jami Sherwood planned the event décor and entertainment.
A Live Auction with WABC-TV’s Bill Evans raised $6,500, and The Silent Auction raised $21,000. Club members sold Wish List Items raising almost $5,000. The majority of revenues raised was in event sponsorships. All proceeds support the educational after school programs of the Boys and Girls Club of Stamford serving over 1,100 Stamford children at risk.
