Twilight benefit dinner is dawning

A bridal basket filled with a bottle of champagne, flute glasses, a pearl necklace with matching earrings, and a $100 gift certificate from a Lynbrook bridal shop are just some of the items among 150 gifts to be offered at the Bernard Klein Charity Fund Twilight Dinner on September 18.

The cost is $45 per person and includes a full sit-down dinner, (cash bar will be available), live entertainment, free favors and door prizes, followed by a Chinese auction. Proceeds will benefit stem cell research, the Coma/Traumatic Brain Injury Recovery Association and the Foundation Fighting Blindness.

Klein set up the charity fund in 2007 in her husband, Bernard’s name, to continue helping the charities to which he donated during his lifetime. He died in October 2006 at age 72.

This is the fourth year for this non-profit organization. In previous years, the fund has donated proceeds to organizations that help those with cancer, autism, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and heart disease.

Prizes in this year’s Bernard Klein Charity event include baskets assembled from items donated by area businesses, including a fur scarf from Paris, fur and leather jacket, evening bags, Kathy van Zeeland leather handbags, a stocked wine rack, a Mikasa vase and serving tray and an array of small appliances, including a hair dryer and blender.

To be offered as well are baskets filled with snacks and toys for dogs, and for birds, including a gift certificate for a free parakeet.

For sports fans, there are box seats for the New York Mets, a football autographed by the New York Jets, and photographs signed by the New York Knicks and New York Rangers.

For those who like the outdoors, there are picnic baskets filled with plastic plates, knives, forks, spoons, tablecloths and blankets.

In addition, over 60 gift certificates will be auctioned, ranging from $25 to $100 for the Cheesecake Factory, Grand Lux Café and P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, among others.

Renee Klein began soliciting the prizes on behalf of the charity in May, visiting stores in Hewlett, Woodmere, Lynbrook and Rockville Centre. In addition to going by car, she often walked from her East Rockaway home to stores in Lynbrook, even on several 100-degree days. “I took plenty of water with me,” she said, adding, “It was very hot, but it was worth it. Storekeepers were very generous, considering the economy.”