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A Night for Gabriel to aid child battling leukemia
Young entertainers will perform for a good cause at Freehold Borough church
BY PATRICIA YOCZIS Correspondent
P erformances by talented young singers and musicians, as well as a dinner, are included in A Night for Gabriel, a fundraiser for Gabriel Garcia, a 4-year-old boy who was recently diagnosed with leukemia. The event will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, 118 W. Main St., Freehold Borough, from 7-10 p.m. Dec. 5.
Stephanie Hanvey
Gabriel's parents, Ann Bagchi and Felix Garcia, Freehold Borough residents, are in immediate need of funds to pay for the child's medical treatments.
According to Jackie Koleshnick, who is organizing the event with Lazaro Cardenas, a Freehold Township resident, the family includes a 12-year-old daughter, has no health insurance and there is only one income.
"Gabriel is facing two years of chemotherapy and funds are needed for that," said Koleshnick, a Freehold Township resident. "Ann is the treasurer of the Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey, Monmouth County Chapter. She has been very active in the community and organizing events to help others, such as the sanctuary meal program in FreeholdBorough, a coat drive and the Latino Festival. Now it's time to help her and her family."
Koleshnick said all of the entertainers have donated their time and talent for the fundraiser, including DJ Lady C (La Comai Buena) from New Brunswick who will provide dinner music and the sound system for the singers and the musicians.
She said the entertainers will sing their own original songs, popular and R&B favorites, as well as Christmas songs.
Scheduled to perform are: Stephanie Marie Hanvey of Howell; Veronica Kole of Freehold Township (Koleshnick's daughter); Justin and Alina Zimmerman of Howell; and Alessandra Castronovo of Millstone Township.
Stephanie Marie Hanvey, 12, has sung at numerous benefits, including a Make a Wish Foundation benefit and she is scheduled for an upcoming wildlife conservation benefit in Florida, as well as singing the national anthem at a New Jersey Nets game on Dec. 9. She has won awards at many competitions, including amateur night at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York. "I'm That Girl" is one of her best known original songs.
Stephanie, a seventh grade student at Howell Middle School South, said, "My singing is a God-given gift that I want to share and with it to give a positive message to children and everyone. " Her message to Gabriel is: "A 4-year-old can have his dreams come true. Hang in there and everything will be OK."
Veronica Kole, 15, is a pop singer who has sung at Carnegie Hall in New York, the Stony Pony in Asbury Park and on the "Today" show with the St. Bart's Choir. She has also been part of a 2005 Italian concert tour of eight cities.
She knows Gabriel and his parents and said they are expected at the fundraiser.
"People know the pain of losing someone to leukemia," Veronica said. "A Night for Gabriel supports his fight and at the same time will give him a night of enjoyment. It will be a great time of music, food and fun for everyone."
Justin, 16, and Alina Zimmerman, 13, a brother and sister duo known as Sibling Rivalry, have performed for the American Cancer Society's annual Relay For Life fundraiser in Freehold, where they sang "Gone From Me," an original song written in honor of two aunts who died of cancer. Their other venues include Disney World in Florida, Rockefeller Center in New York City and on MTV, as well as performing with The Nerds and The Punks.
Alessandra Castronovo, 16, a pop, Latin and R&B singer, lists on her MySpace page many performances for school and town functions and performing at the MGM Grand and at Great Adventure in Jackson. A signature song is Etta James'"At Last" and some of her original songs are "Beautiful You," "Make It Better" and "Reach for Me."
The First Presbyterian Church, where Gabriel's parents are members, is donating its facilities for the concert and dinner. Members of the congregation will prepare pasta and meatballs and serve the dinner. Also, the dinner includes chicken marsala and salad donated by the Albivi Brick Oven Restaurant in Millstone Township that is owned by Vinnie and Daniela Castronovo. Desserts will be available.
The event includes a 50/50 raffle and tickets are available at the door on Dec. 5. A $20 donation per person is requested. For further information call Lazaro Cardenas at 732-500- 7864 or send donations to LLANJ, P.O. Box 943, Freehold, NJ 07728.
A Night for Gabriel to aid child battling leukemia
Young entertainers will perform for a good cause at Freehold Borough church
BY PATRICIA YOCZIS Correspondent
P erformances by talented young singers and musicians, as well as a dinner, are included in A Night for Gabriel, a fundraiser for Gabriel Garcia, a 4-year-old boy who was recently diagnosed with leukemia. The event will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, 118 W. Main St., Freehold Borough, from 7-10 p.m. Dec. 5.
Stephanie Hanvey
Gabriel's parents, Ann Bagchi and Felix Garcia, Freehold Borough residents, are in immediate need of funds to pay for the child's medical treatments.
According to Jackie Koleshnick, who is organizing the event with Lazaro Cardenas, a Freehold Township resident, the family includes a 12-year-old daughter, has no health insurance and there is only one income.
"Gabriel is facing two years of chemotherapy and funds are needed for that," said Koleshnick, a Freehold Township resident. "Ann is the treasurer of the Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey, Monmouth County Chapter. She has been very active in the community and organizing events to help others, such as the sanctuary meal program in FreeholdBorough, a coat drive and the Latino Festival. Now it's time to help her and her family."
Koleshnick said all of the entertainers have donated their time and talent for the fundraiser, including DJ Lady C (La Comai Buena) from New Brunswick who will provide dinner music and the sound system for the singers and the musicians.
She said the entertainers will sing their own original songs, popular and R&B favorites, as well as Christmas songs.
Scheduled to perform are: Stephanie Marie Hanvey of Howell; Veronica Kole of Freehold Township (Koleshnick's daughter); Justin and Alina Zimmerman of Howell; and Alessandra Castronovo of Millstone Township.
Stephanie Marie Hanvey, 12, has sung at numerous benefits, including a Make a Wish Foundation benefit and she is scheduled for an upcoming wildlife conservation benefit in Florida, as well as singing the national anthem at a New Jersey Nets game on Dec. 9. She has won awards at many competitions, including amateur night at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York. "I'm That Girl" is one of her best known original songs.
Stephanie, a seventh grade student at Howell Middle School South, said, "My singing is a God-given gift that I want to share and with it to give a positive message to children and everyone. " Her message to Gabriel is: "A 4-year-old can have his dreams come true. Hang in there and everything will be OK."
Veronica Kole, 15, is a pop singer who has sung at Carnegie Hall in New York, the Stony Pony in Asbury Park and on the "Today" show with the St. Bart's Choir. She has also been part of a 2005 Italian concert tour of eight cities.
She knows Gabriel and his parents and said they are expected at the fundraiser.
"People know the pain of losing someone to leukemia," Veronica said. "A Night for Gabriel supports his fight and at the same time will give him a night of enjoyment. It will be a great time of music, food and fun for everyone."
Justin, 16, and Alina Zimmerman, 13, a brother and sister duo known as Sibling Rivalry, have performed for the American Cancer Society's annual Relay For Life fundraiser in Freehold, where they sang "Gone From Me," an original song written in honor of two aunts who died of cancer. Their other venues include Disney World in Florida, Rockefeller Center in New York City and on MTV, as well as performing with The Nerds and The Punks.
Alessandra Castronovo, 16, a pop, Latin and R&B singer, lists on her MySpace page many performances for school and town functions and performing at the MGM Grand and at Great Adventure in Jackson. A signature song is Etta James'"At Last" and some of her original songs are "Beautiful You," "Make It Better" and "Reach for Me."
The First Presbyterian Church, where Gabriel's parents are members, is donating its facilities for the concert and dinner. Members of the congregation will prepare pasta and meatballs and serve the dinner. Also, the dinner includes chicken marsala and salad donated by the Albivi Brick Oven Restaurant in Millstone Township that is owned by Vinnie and Daniela Castronovo. Desserts will be available.
The event includes a 50/50 raffle and tickets are available at the door on Dec. 5. A $20 donation per person is requested. For further information call Lazaro Cardenas at 732-500- 7864 or send donations to LLANJ, P.O. Box 943, Freehold, NJ 07728.