A Taste of Success: Benefit Raises $120,000 for Scholarships, Educational Programs

Delicious food, fine wine and a sold out dining room were the main ingredients in the recipe for the latest successful fundraiser to benefit SUNY College at Old Westbury. In all, $120,000 in gross revenue was raised during "A Taste of Long Island," a gala dinner organized by the Old Westbury College Foundation, Inc. in support of the College.
"Ladies and gentlemen, by being here tonight you have helped us improve the educational experience of the students of Old Westbury," College President Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III, told the guests in attendance at Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury, New York. "To get to where we want to go, to add to the strength of an Old Westbury education, and to enhance our position as a community resource, we need the assistance of people like you. I cannot thank you enough for joining us."
Throughout the evening, guests were able to enjoy a sampling tour of the latest creations from the menus of the region's finest dining establishments, compare the offerings from an array of local vineyards, and ask questions of leading chefs and vintners themselves.
The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the sixth annual Ellie Simpson Citizenship Award to Michelle Di Benedetto. Along with her role as a vice president for government and community relations for Citibank, N.A., Di Benedetto is well-known for her leadership in Long Island charitable and civic communities, including her service to such organizations as Sustainable Long Island, the Long Island Fund for Women and Girls, and the Fair Media Council.
The evening also featured the presentation of the Old Westbury Learning and Leadership Award to Douglas Kurz. Recently retired as managing partner of the Long Island Office of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Kurz was recognized for his nearly 15 years of service to the College and College Foundation, including his leadership of the Long Island International Partnership Committee.
Among the restaurants and wineries that took part in the affair were: Aix En Provence, American Classic Specialties, Barney's, Café Toscano of Jericho, Chartwells, Cristina's, Crest Hollow Country Club, Dallas BBQ, Fiddleheads American Fish House & Grill, George Martin: The Original, George Martin's Coastal Grill, Legal Sea Foods, Maine Maid Inn, Manor Hill Vineyards, Martha Clara Vineyards, Mim's, Nick DiAngelo, Sitar, Sweet Karma Desserts, Taste, Uncle Bacala's and Vineyard 48.
Making "A Taste of Long Island" possible was support from a host of corporate and individual sponsors. The presenting sponsors for the evening were Citibank, N.A. and Liberty Title Agency. Other sponsors included Chartwells & Thompson Hospitality, Madison National Bank, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Joseph and Laurel Anne Mancino, Nassau Community College, Newsday/Island-Publications, and the Louise & Gerald Kaiser Family Foundation.
The Ellie Simpson Citizenship Award was created in 2002 to herald the life and commitment to community service of Mrs. Eleanor Simpson, who spent more than 35 years in service to Long Island. Past recipients of the award include Harvey Simpson, John Cameron, Brian Madden, Daniel Murphy, and Robert McMillan.
The Old Westbury Learning and Leadership Awards are presented to those men and women who have, through their efforts and deeds, aided the progress of SUNY College at Old Westbury while exhibiting in their own unique ways a commitment to the College's goal of stimulating in students a passion for learning and a commitment to building a more just world for humankind. Past recipients of Old Westbury Learning and Leadership Awards include New York State Senator Carl Marcellino, then-New York State Assemblyman Thomas DiNapoli, and former Nassau County Police Commissioner James Lawrence.
The Old Westbury College Foundation, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to assisting SUNY College at Old Westbury in becoming the flagship Arts & Sciences College in the SUNY system. Directed by a 25 member board, the Foundation solicits gifts, grants and endowments that enhance the educational, research and community service mission of the College. Funds raised through Foundation activities, help bridge the gap between tuition and operating expenses at the College, and ensure that Old Westbury's students have the best educational experience possible.