Grace Community Center
"A Salute to Our Stars Brunch"
April 10, 2005
50 supporters of Grace Community Center (GCCC), the largest
social services agency in Westchester County, gathered for an outdoor
brunch at the West Harrison home of Doctor Richard E. Graham and Regina
Taylor-Graham on Sunday April 10th to honor its volunteers
and donors and raise $11,000 for the agency’s programs.
The "Salute to Our Stars Brunch" was attended
by Congresswoman Nita Lowey and White Plains Mayor Joseph Delfino who
both took time to chat with Karen Fracassi, a resident of Samaritan House,
GCCC’s women’s shelter. Fracassi, who read a poem she had written
for the event, was a driving force in keeping the shelter open in December
when a serious shortage of funds threatened its closure. Distraught over
the possibility of losing her "home" and her friends, Fracassi
took the plight of the shelter to the press. The resulting publicity elicited
an anonymous donation that saved the shelter.
Another guest at the brunch Arline Whitford, also a resident
of Samaritan House, has discovered a talent for painting since living
at the shelter. Whitford created and donated a series of prints which
were displayed at the event and later presented as door prizes.
GCCC is a non sectarian, 501(c) (3) agency whose mission
is to support the neediest residents of Westchester County, particularly
those who are not served by any other resources. In existence for 26 years,
the agency operates eight critical programs including a soup kitchen,
shelters for men and women, a day camp and yearlong mentoring program
for homeless children, day care for low-income families, a drop-in center
for developmentally disabled adults, home health care for the elderly
and housing services to prevent eviction and homelessness.
Anyone wanting to learn more about GCCC can contact Christine
Meyer, Director of Development, at (914) 949-3098 ext. 130 or at christinemeyer@gracecommunitycenter.org.
Contributions of any amount may be sent to GCCC Development Office, 52
N. Broadway, White Plains, NY 10603.
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