 he
evening sun shone brightly over the annual Junior Event
at a rooftop garden in lower Manhattan on April 30th.
The fundraiser brought together young professionals
who are committed to make a difference and in this case
support OPTIONS, Goddard Riverside’s renowned
college counseling program.
This year’s event, themed “Reach for
the Sky,” attracted nearly 200 guests to Sky
Studios, the site of the breathtaking rooftop. Fancy
cocktails and elegant food treats were passed around
amidst animated conversation with friends, colleagues
and new acquaintances and bidding on silent auction
items. Vibrant blue floral arrangements and orchids
floating on polished black stone beds in square vases
complemented the venue with the floor to ceiling windows.
Guests were treated to a mesmerizing sunset as they
meandered in the outdoor garden, on the pool deck
and around multi-tiered balconies.
The evening highlight was the speech from one of
OPTIONS alumni, César Naranjo, an immigrant
from Columbia who graduated from Carnegie Mellon with
a degree in Electrical Engineering. He now works as
a financial analyst for Tricadia Capital. Then the
live auctioneer got everyone stirred up as guests
bid feverishly on items, especially on the one week
stay in a country house that sleeps 12 in Columbia
County. Another poignant moment arose when dozens
of paddles were raised when the auctioneer challenged
the crowd to bid $100 to help young people Reach for
the Sky by achieving their dreams of going to college.
That $100 pays for one student to attend our SAT prep
class or for one student to go on an overnight college
visit.
Proceeds from this event support Goddard Riverside's
OPTIONS Center
for Educational and Career Choice that guides New
York City students from low-income families through
the college application process. Every year the program
sends nearly 200 underserved teens off to college
and reaches another 1000 students with counseling
and college preparation.
Thanks to our sponsors
who helped us create a memorable and successful event.
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