(New York, NY, May 8, 2018) Spence-Chapin Services to Families & Children held their Annual Gala last Thursday evening, May 3, 2018 at Current at Chelsea Piers. Support for Spence-Chapin’s Annual Gala furthers the 110-year old organization’s guiding principle that every child deserves a family.
The theme of family, in its many forms, resonated throughout the evening. The Annual Gala honored 25-year Spence-Chapin employee Antoinette Cockerham who served as Director of Domestic Programs and helped to create hundreds of families through adoption during her tenure. Hardie Stevens, entrepreneur and adoptee through Spence-Chapin, spoke about the significance of adoption as a lifelong experience and the unique ways it has shaped his view of family. During the event, Spence-Chapin also premiered their short film, “Family.”
Adam Cotumaccio, President and CEO of Spence-Chapin said, “Spence-Chapin is truly a unique organization. This year’s Gala was dedicated to the work we have done serving as part of the connective tissue to thousands of families throughout our 110-year history. The event enabled us to celebrate family and open-adoption in all its intricate, loving, challenging, and wonderful forms. I am forever grateful to our amazing staff and the impact they deliver each day the Spence-Chapin Way by helping to create strong families and by providing women in crisis with the support and counseling needed to make informed decisions about their options.”
Spence-Chapin’s Gala was hosted by Dave Price from NBC 4 News New York for the second year in a row. Dave Price serves as weather anchor for NBC 4 New York’s 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM newscasts. Prior to joining NBC 4 New York, Price co-anchored Good Day New York at WNYW FOX5. He has also appeared on NBC’s TODAY and covered major weather events for the CBS Evening News. Professional charity auctioneer, CK Swett, returned to Spence-Chapin’s Gala for a third-year helping the organization raise an additional $80,000 in less than ten minutes during a spectacular direct pledge moment near the end of the event.
Other notables in attendance at the Gala included Rehema Ellis, award-winning journalist from NBC who adopted her son through Spence-Chapin; singer/songwriter Dana Fuchs; and Raqiyah Mays, author, journalist, and radio personality at WBLS. Representatives from partners such as U.S. Bank, Michael Kors, Courtyard by Marriott and The Apollo Theater were also at the event. Catering for Spence Chapin’s Gala was provided by Abigail Kirsch. Proceeds from the Gala enable Spence-Chapin to continue to provide key programs to build families through adoption and to develop programs that provide emotional health & wellness to all members of the adoption triad and support those family connections.
