MAYOR ROBERT & SUSAN PALMIERI ANNOUNCE UNITED WAY & STANLEY THEATER AS 2016 MAYOR GALA RECIPIENTS
Gala Proceeds to Help City Youth
Mayor Robert Palmieri and his wife, Susan, today announced that the United Way of the Valley and Greater Utica Area and the Stanley Theater will be co-recipients of the 2016 Mayor’s Gala, to be held on Saturday April 16th at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Utica. Tickets are $50 per person.
To purchase tickets you can visit the Mayor’s Benefit Gala website at www.uticamayorbenefitgala.com (website will be launched Friday) or make checks payable to Mayor’s Benefit Gala and mail it to Ashley Bizzari at 1 Kennedy Plaza Utica, NY 13502.
The theme of the 2016 Gala is Brighter Futures! The goal is to enhance opportunities and potential for Utica’s city youth through structured physical activity and introduction to the theater and arts.
Over the last 18 months, United Way has been developing the foundation for the LIVE WELL initiative, which is designed to improve the health of children and increase physical activity. With the proceeds from the Mayor’s Gala, this program will come to fruition this spring.
In the City of Utica, a staggering 40% of children are overweight or obese, compared to an 18.4% average throughout the Central NY region.
With the LIVE WELL initiative, United Way will focus on reaching children who fall through the cracks by increasing access to healthy foods, implementing fitness programs and activities that all children enjoy, and providing knowledge and information to families to lower the childhood obesity rate in our community.
The LIVE WELL initiative builds upon the United Way’s already existing 40 year partnership with the National Football League to reduce childhood obesity through the Play 60 Program by reaching out to more kids on a consistent basis.
The Stanley Theater will utilize its proceeds to offer children free theater camp to learn new theatrical skills and enhance the creativity of students. The camp will offer training from area theater educators, performers and theater professionals for acting, dancing, singing, writing and “behind the scenes” work.
The camp serves as a great opportunity to boost students’ self-esteem and develop skills that will last a lifetime.
Mayor Robert & Susan Palmieri stated, “We are pleased to support two great local organizations in an effort to improve the health and quality of life for children in our community. We thank the many restaurants, businesses and organizations whose generous donations make the Gala a great night for all to enjoy; and we encourage the community to come out and support this worthy cause.”
United Way Executive Director Brenda Episcopo stated, “It’s a thrill to partner with the Stanley Theater and Mayor and Mrs. Palmieri to create brighter futures for the children of Utica and beyond. The success of this gala, to build upon our initiative, will make changes that will last a lifetime.”
Stanley Theater Executive Director Jerry Kraus stated, “This is a wonderful opportunity for us to offer a free summer theater camp to Utica students. Who knows, we may see a few of our own local youth on Broadway someday, or on American Idol or The Voice, or even on tour across America and we can say it started here at The Stanley with the Mayor’s Gala funding. It’s also exciting to be working with the United Way to help with their youth initiatives. We’re looking forward to a great event!”
