Annual Bernard Klein Charity Dinner planned

A leather and fur jacket, karate school sessions and a New York Jets football autographed by the entire team are among the many items being offered at the upcoming Bernard Klein Charity Fund Twilight Dinner and Chinese Auction.

“Generous donations and ticket sales have come from all over the area, including East Rockaway, Lynbrook, Rockville Centre, the Five Towns, and Oceanside,” said East Rockaway resident Renee Klein, who set up the charity fund in her husband Bernard’s name in 2007 to continue helping the many charities to which he donated during his lifetime. He died in October 2006 at age 72.           

Proceeds will go to the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research, Prostate Cancer Foundation, American Lung Association and the Susan Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

“With the economy being so bad, my experience obtaining gifts this year for the Chinese auction has been a challenging one,” Klein said. “Even though these are difficult times, so many people still have room in their hearts to donate to charity. They realize how important it is to give for research to save lives. Possibly they understand that, their donation to research might one day save the lives of a loved one, or even their own life.”

Other prizes include gift certificates to local restaurants, handbags and evening bags, Burton golf bag, jewelry, Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts coffees, vintage wines  — all of which Klein artistically assembles into gift baskets.

Among the more than 200 gifts, the fund raiser will feature 50 gift certificates. Guests could win a wine and cheese tasting, an All Action Alarm Co. home security system, Long Island Shotokan Karate School sessions, car washes, home furnishings and photography sessions.

“There’s even a gift certificate for a parakeet!” said Klein. “Here I am trying to save lives, and I’ll also be giving a bird a new life in someone’s home.”             

This is the fourth fund-raiser for the nonprofit organization. In previous years, the fund has donated proceeds to organizations dedicated to helping those with diabetes, lupus, multiple sclerosis, autism, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, heart disease and Canine Companions for Independence (medic dogs).