By Lisa Smith Barr, Vice President for Public Relations, The Bronxville School Foundation

Apr. 13, 2016:  Nearly five hundred guests, undaunted by the decidedly un-spring-like weather, celebrated The Bronxville School Foundation's 25th anniversary at a Spring Swing event on Friday, April 8.

The event kicked off with cocktails from Station Wine & Spirits and nibbles from Dinner Thyme Catering under a tent with décor by Margaret Paul. Residents of Bronxville's Garden Avenue townhouses generously offered their backyard to host the pre-concert festivities.

Cocktails were followed by a jazz performance in the school's new auditorium by the Walter Blanding Quintet from Jazz at Lincoln Center. As they made their way to the auditorium, guests were entertained by the Bronxville Middle/High School Jazz Ensemble.

The event was chaired by all 20 current and former chairs and executive directors of the foundation since its inception in 1991. Said the current foundation chair, Ashley Hanrahan, "It was amazing to have so many of the founding members and leadership of the foundation join us for the event. Their foresight and hard work has helped our school reach for the stars."

“We’ve received grant requests from teachers, administrators, parents and students totaling more than $800,000 this year. The proceeds from this event and the almost $450,000 we’ve raised from our annual Community Drive will help us fund as many good ideas as possible,” enthused Jennie Thomas, Grants VP for the Foundation.

The Foundation was founded in 1991 by local Bronxville residents to raise private money from the community to fund ideas and projects to improve the school beyond what could be covered by the District budget. The Foundation has awarded more than $7.5 million of grants to date.

Dozens of local businesses stepped up to sponsor Spring Swing so that 100 percent of ticket sales went directly to supporting the Foundation’s work. Houlihan Lawrence and Valerie Wilson Travel were Gold Sponsors. Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty and New York Presbyterian/Lawrence Hospital contributed at the Silver level. Pepe Auto Group and KG&D Architects were Bronze sponsors.

The Infinia Group donated all the design and printing for event.  Additional event underwriters included Abtsolute Training Systems, All Colors Painting, Arthur Lange, BAMS Beauty Skin Care Studio, Blue Moon Mexican Café, Bronxville Realty Associates, Chase Branch at Bronxville Station, Citrine, Clothes Doctor, Continentale, Dobbs & Bishop Fine Cheese, Ernie’s Wine Bar, Fred H. McGrath & Son, Green Wood Flowers, HML Contracting, J. Pocker & Son, JDS Custom Homes, Lange’s Of Bronxville. Kensington Paper, Mini Prime Meats, Park Place Bagels, Pansarella & Sons Landscaping, Rev Fitness, The UPS Store, Silk Road, Steven Palm & Underhills Crossing, Stillmeadow Gourmet, Toney Toni and the Gang and Tryforos and Pernice Florist.

“We couldn’t have asked for a more successful outcome,” said Foundation Development VP, Christine Fitzgibbons.  “We had a packed house for world-class entertainment. Support for the event came not just from school families but from families all across the Bronxville community, from teachers, school administration and from generous local businesses. We are lucky to live in a community that knows that it takes a village to educate our children.” 

Ticket sales and sponsorship from local families and businesses helped the foundation raise $140,000.

To see photos of those attending, click here:

The Bronxville School Foundation's 25th Anniversary Benefit 2016

Pictured here:  Top photo (L to R): benefit chair Christine Fitzgibbons, Jazz Man of the Walter Blanding Quintet, and foundation chair, Ashley Hanrahan; second photo: cocktails under the tent.

Photos by Lisa Smith Barr and Peggy Williams