PTA Raises Monies at Black Wednesday at Porto Vivo
The Huntington High School and J. Taylor Finley Middle School communities turned out for a fun evening at Porto Vivo in Huntington village. A crowd of 120 gathered to help the PTA organizations of both buildings raise monies to support their educational programs.
Organizers decided to “freshen-up” the annual event, injecting a dose of excitement into the night that drew a cross-section of Huntington school supporters, including trustees Emily Rogan, Jennifer Hebert, Bari Fehrs and Tom DiGiacomo.
The evening consisted of “little black bag” shopping experiences (i.e. three hours of SAT tutoring for $100) generously donated by the teachers and staff. There was a “wine pull” in the lower level wine bar, where a person could purchase a bottle of wine for $10, but the actual value of the wrapped bottles ranged from $10 to $100.
Ten fabulous raffles and five live auction items kept the attention of the crowd. The live auction was deftly handled by Huntington High School English teacher and drama club advisor Michael Schwendemann, himself an experienced stage actor. “Schwendy,” as he is affectionately known by students and parents, worked his magic to draw bidders ever higher in the price they were willing to pay.
“I enjoyed this event very much,” said Carmela Leonardi, Huntington High School’s longtime principal. “It gave everyone an opportunity to mingle and talk. The leadership of the two parent organizations outdid themselves with the kinds of prizes available to those who wished to try their luck. All in all I believe that the night was a great success.”
For many the highlight of the evening was the grand prize raffle drawing of a brand new 2014 black Toyota Camry or $5,000 in cash. Superintendent James W. Polansky pulled the winning ticket at 9:45 p.m. sharp. The winner was a very excited Kim Hardardt, who loudly exclaimed, “I can’t believe I won the car!”
“It was a scene right out of the Price is Right,” said Huntington High School PTSA President Alice Marie Rorke. After catching her breath, Mrs. Hardardt stepped outside Porto Vivo to look over her new car.
“The PTAs worked diligently to come up with something new and unique,” Mr. Polansky said. “All in attendance had a wonderful time and genuinely enjoyed the ambiance and each other’s company. It was a privilege to have attended. Well-deserved thanks to those who spent so much time and effort in planning the event.”
“The food was amazing and the service incredible,” said Laurene Napurano, the Huntington High School PTSA’s vice-president, about the memorable party that participants are still buzzing about. A group of dedicated volunteers organized the affair with an eye of producing a fun night for everyone.
“The money raised at this event goes to fund PTA programs throughout the year for our children,” Mrs. Rorke said. The high school PTSA will use the funds to support its annual scholarship program.