By Dr. Gracelyn Santos | gsantos@siadvance.com
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STATEN ISLAND, NY – On Monday, Oct. 7, the St. George Theatre will host its eighth annual “Laughs on the Links” Golf, Bocce, Tennis & Pickleball Outing at the Richmond County Country Club to raise funds for the St. George Theatre Restoration Inc, the non-profit organization that operates the historic theatre.
The outing’s Presenting Sponsor is the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation along with Marquee Sponsors the Staten Island Advance, Staten Island University Hospital, Empire State Bank, Conhagen, and The Law Office of Victoria Wickman.
This year’s honorees include: Tekie Geek and their Superheroes of Cyber Security led by Mike Bloomfield; Nellie Suarez, the Executive Program Director of Childcare at Seamen’s Society for Children and Families; Frank Wilkinson, owner, Rab’s Country Lanes; and Anthony Wilkinson, a professional producer, writer, and actor, and three-time Emmy winner.
“We truly appreciate the support we receive from our community that allows us to make an impact for the residents of our borough and beyond,” says Doreen Cugno, Co-Founder and CEO. “The St. George Theatre is here for our future generations. It takes a village, and we have the best village in all of New York City, that gives us the opportunity to host enriching programming and continue with our restoration efforts.”
The event chairpersons for this event are Dan Bilotti, Ron J. Scimone, John Tardy andVincent Tardy for golf, Katherine Conners, Celeste Holmes-Bute, Dr. Thomas Petrone and Dr. Gracelyn Santos for tennis/pickleball, and Diana Boland, Joanne Caridi, Linda Clemenza, and Leslie Kasegrande, Esq. for bocce.
Sponsorships begin at $200. Tickets are $450 for golfers ($1,700 foursome), $325 for bocce($1,200 foursome), or $325 for tennis/pickleball players which include breakfast, lunch, cocktail hour, and dinner.
Tickets for cocktails and dinner-only are $250. For more information and registration, including full schedule and order form, click here: https://stgeorgetheatre.com/golf/
ABOUT THE HONOREES
Frank Wilkinson spearheads as second-generation business owner, Rab’s Country Lanes, and has been providing a fun and safe haven for Staten Islanders for 30 years. More than just your neighborhood bowling alley, each year Rab’s helps local organizations raise over $500,000 through fundraisers and events. Frank has a solid volunteer portfolio through the non-profit organizations he is affiliated with and shines in our community. Frank dedicates his life to the Staten Island community and the bowling industry.
“I am incredibly humbled and excited to be honored by the St. George Theatre. Supporting local arts and entertainment is vital to the lifeblood of our community. When our entertainment facilities come together, we create a stronger, more vibrant Staten Island for everyone.” says Frank Wilkinson.
Anthony Wilkinson, a professional producer, writer, and actor, and three-time Emmy winner. He is well recognized for his full-length comedic play series, My Big Gay Italian Wedding, Funeral, Christmas, and Midlife Crisis through his company Bianco Productions where he is a pioneer bringing equity and inclusion to the stage for over 20 years. Anthony premiered his play at the St. George Theatre in 2005 before taking it to Off-Broadway. Also, he is the executive and artistic director for the Avenel Performing Arts Center in NJ. Anthony and his brother Frank Wilkinson are pillars in our community.
Tekie Geek and their Superheroes of Cyber Security led by Mike Bloomfield provide outstanding service and the best in IT security for our fast-paced business. The company’s core values – community, culture, and clients – are reflected in everything they do, providing multiple levels of high-tech service to our organization. They take pride in being nationally recognized in the IT industry and they take center stage in our technology world, behind the scenes.
“On behalf of the entire Tekie Geek team, we are beyond thrilled to receive this honor from the St. George Theatre. Just like any great superhero squad, our team’s strength lies in our unity, dedication, and the unstoppable drive to protect and serve our community. This recognition is a true testament to the superpowers of our incredible team at Tekie Geek. Thank you for acknowledging our mission to keep everyone safe in the digital world!” says Mike Bloomfield.
Nellie Suarez, the Executive Program Director of Childcare at Seamen’s Society for Children and Families, is being honored for her outstanding leadership as she’s been collaborating with St. George Theatre for over 20 years to give children and their families access to the arts by attending live performances and participating in our educational programs. Nellie has changed countless lives during her 40-year career of service.
“As summer winds down, I look forward to getting back into full swing with our upcoming Golf, Bocce, Tennis & Pickleball event,” says Luanne Sorrentino, co-founder. “Whether you plan to hit the golf course or the courts, we always promise that it will be a fun-filled day. I couldn’t think of a better way to support our beloved St. George Theatre. It doesn’t get any better than playing in the sunshine with colleagues, friends, and family.”