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BAILEY HOUSE
New York Opens Its Heart
For AIDS Service Program
Story by Edward T. Callaghan
Photos by Rob
Rich
CTRESS
Lucie Arnaz, designer Todd Oldham, Thom Filicia from
Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, fitness guru Jon Giswold
and Channel 7 weatherman Sam Champion joined New Yorkers at
the 16th annual Open Your Heart charity auction. The
fundraiser benefits Bailey House, New York’s oldest AIDS housing
project.
More than 600 guests were on hand to bid on
the thousands of items gathered by a truly stellar committee and
volunteers including fantasy vacations to the Mayan Riviera, La
Isla Bonita, Vueques, and a week’s stay in Cliveden Castle on
the River Thames, and a trip to Rio and a stay at the 5-star
Pestana Rio Atlantica, donated by Prideworld Travel.
Jeweler Anthony Nak, whose creations
grace such red-carpet glamour gals as Jennifer Lopez, Sarah
Jessica Parker and Cameron Diaz, donated some fabulous
BLING-BLING – gray sapphire, lemon citrine and blue beryl
chandelier earrings that would put Nicole Kidman into a
swoon.
Co-chair Jon
Giswold, Hamptons realtor Marc Raboy and Lucie Arnaz
in a shimmering red silk trouser suit greeted old friends at
the entrance to the main live auction room including Barry
Gordin, Miss USA Susie Castillo, Robbie Browne and Vincent
Minuto (his Hamptonsdomestics Co. staffs all the big, and we
mean big, houses and yachts in the Hamptons and Palm Beach).
There was plenty of scrumptious food thanks
to eventeur extraordinaire Larry Scott of Laurence Scott
Events. Scott, a major supporter of Bailey House, donated all
the food and décor for the massive event. Captain Steve Leon
raced around the rooms making sure that everyone had a plate and
drink in their hands.
MAC Cosmetics, another long-term supporter,
kicked up the evening’s tally with a whopping $50,000 donation!
Bailey House executive-director Regina
Quattrochi was ecstatic with the turnout.
“The money raised at this event will help
provide housing and crucial support services like job training for
many former homeless people living with HIV/AIDS in New York
City,” she said. “With public support for organizations like
Bailey House dwindling, help from the private sector is
critical.”
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