More than $100K raised through Project Bulldog

The culmination of the year-long Project Bulldog took place at the Seawane Club in Hewlett Harbor on June 17. Seawane hosted the highly anticipated bulldog auction with a first-class gourmet barbecue on its outdoor patio followed by a live, professional-style auction.

A sold-out crowd of 375 bulldog admirers and supporters gathered together to celebrate the community-based event, created by long-time local resident

and Hewlett High School alumni, Ira Friedman.

Friedman, in collaboration with a local group volunteers—Friends of Project Bulldog”—attracted the involvement of Fox5 TV reporter Carolyn Gusoff (a graduate of Hewlett High School), as Master of Ceremonies. Arlan Ettinger,proprietor of the nationally acclaimed and New York City- based Guernsey’s Auction House, presided over the packed crowd as auctioneer.

The bidding for each bulldog was brisk, lively and oftentimes intense. By the end of the night, all 37 bulldogs put up for auction were sold and more than $100,000 was raised in support of the Hewlett-Woodmere Public Schools Art Department.

Highlights include: internationally-acclaimed contemporary artist Ross Bleckner’s “Georgie Boy” bulldog which earned the honor of Top Dog due to its stellar $14,000 final auction price while fashion icon Donna Karan’s “DKNY” dog claimed a not-too-shabby $5,000 price tag. (Both Bleckner and Karan

are also Hewlett High School alums.) Hewlett-Woodmere School Art Chair Jessica Bayer’s “A Touch of Glass,” a local favorite, commanded a final sale price of $6,500.

Project Bulldog attracted the participation of Hewlett High School art students, faculty artists, local community artists and alumni artists as well as sponsorship support from dozens of local area business merchants. For more information about Project Bulldog visit www.projectbullgod.net.