Photos: Las Vegas comes to the Sandel Senior Center

Crowds of people gathered at the Sandel Senior Center on Friday night to enjoy all the glitz and glamor of Las Vegas without ever leaving their hometown.

The Friends of Senior Services fundraising organization transformed the center into a casino for the Viva La FOSSI fundraiser — a special one-night-only event to raise money dedicated to expanding senior services and developing new programs for its eldest population.

FOSSI is a not-for-profit organization made up of local volunteers dedicated to improving the quality of life for senior citizens in the community.

Thanks to its unwavering dedication, the organization has been able to provide the senior center with an annual volunteer luncheon, automated doors, and an accessible bus with donated funds.

Amid all the fun and excitement on April 12, members of the FOSSI board of directors along with Rockville Centre village officials, recognized honorees Gwynne Feiner, the director of the Rockville Centre Department of Public Works, and Pat O’Brien, superintendent of the Rockville Centre Building Department, for their many years of dedicated service to the village and is senior citizens. Both Feiner and O’Brien received proclamations from the village honoring them for all their contributions.

In order to recreate all of the sights and sounds of a real Las Vegas casino, the fundraiser featured real gaming tables including craps, blackjack, roulette and live musical entertainment featuring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Elvis Presley impersonators.

Guests enjoyed all the thrill of an authentic Vegas experience. Luck was on their side as high rollers placed their bets, hoping to walk away a winner.

Of course the real winners of the night were all the seniors at the Sandel Center, who will ultimately reap the benefit of the community’s philanthropic efforts.

Generosity flowed as the night progressed, with sponsors contributing more than $8,000 to the cause. Among them were notable benefactors including The Redmond Brothers and Schenone Landscaping, which each pledged $500 to support the organization and its endeavors.

The outpouring of support also included contributions of $750 from David and Jackie Wong, Silvagni and Como, The Grand Pavilion and Cybercare Enterprises, as well as $1,000 contributions from esteemed donors including Berton Miller and the Graziano family.

Rockville Centre Mayor Francis Murray along with his wife, Barbara, and family notably gave $1,000 to the organization, as did the Farrell Family, in honor of Ellen Farrell’s mother, Margaret Redmond.

As the final chips were cashed in and the curtains closed on the night's festivities, patrons left knowing that the welfare of the senior community is in good hands.

Thanks to the Friends of Senior Services’ tireless efforts and the community’s generous support the future of the Sandel Senior Center looks brighter than ever.