By ALEX COSTELLO
Because the program is free, there are fundraisers throughout the year. At its biggest event, its Annual Auction, SIBSPlace raised $234,000 by auctioning off donated items.
“This one auction really helps keep us afloat,” said SIBSPlace Director Suzanne Kornblatt. “This is our main fundraiser.”
According to Kornblatt, SIBSPlace volunteers spent the year finding items to be auctioned, and came up with prizes like vacations, jewelry and more. A guitar autographed by rock star Jon Bon Jovi sold for around $5,000, a pair of diamond earrings sold for nearly $10,000 (the most expensive item at the auction), and a dinner prepared by SNCH Executive Chef Stephen Bello went for $8,000.
“This year they actually auctioned me off twice,” said Bello. “So between the two it raised about $16,000.”
Bello’s dinner, one of the highest-ticket items at the auction, is served at the winner’s house (along with a full wait staff) and he prepares a four-course meal for 10-12 people. “It’s fun because we coordinate with the people that are having the party,” Bello said. “What wine they like, any dislikes, any allergies, and we’ll execute it.
“And typically, the people who win us get involved, too,” he added. “Because everyone likes to cook these days.”
“The people who have participated in those dinners say it is just an extraordinary experience,” said SNCH President/CEO Joe Quagliata.
All of the money raised by the auction goes to fund activities for SIBSPlace. The SIBSPlace program, which will be celebrating its 10th anniversary in October, has students come into the SIBSPlace center in Hewlett every Tuesday and Thursday during the school year (there is a separate program for the summer). The people of SIBSPlace, all of whom are therapists, work with the children like any after-school program. They help them with homework, do activities with them and provide dinner.
“But we’re all therapists, so throughout the evening they have the opportunity to build coping skills, and manage the situations they’re all living through,” Kornblatt said. “It kind of normalizes their experiences because there are other kids here that understand what they’re going through because they are going through a similar experience.”
On Thursday evenings, SIBSPlace also provides support groups for parents of sick children. “If one person in the family is ill, every member of that family is impacted,” Kornblatt said.
In the summer, SIBSPlace runs a three-day-camp program, where two out of the three days the children are out doing activities like rock climbing or visiting museums. “Anything that would be a normal experience so that when they go back to school in September they have something to talk about other than just sitting in waiting rooms of hospitals and having to stay home because their ill brother, sister or parent just isn’t up to doing the normal routine,” said Kornblatt.
The money raised at the auction goes a long way to funding all of the activities at SIBSPlace. “This auction is just an amazing expression of the type of support that the community feels for our mission,” said Kornblatt.
The support comes from the fact that the program supports children who, because of their ill siblings or parents, may not receive the attention that children need.
“This program really fills a hole in their heart,” said Quagliata. “To observe what goes on there is just a sight to behold.”
Comments about this story? ACostello@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 207.
