APAA Celebrates Giving Tuesday
Every holiday season, APAA spotlights some of the charitable and not-for-profit organizations our members support, providing an opportunity for awareness and recognition. This year, we are sharing our list on Giving Tuesday with the hope of further uplifting these worthy organizations.
Progetto Itaca
APAA member Clarice Pecori Giraldi supports Progetto Itaca, an organization established in 2012 to promote information, prevention, support, and rehabilitation programs for individuals suffering from mental health disorders and their families. Clarice’s support stems from the respect and awareness she personally has for mental health issues. Her support ranges from charity auctions to attending all the organization’s events in Florence, Italy.
American Federation of Arts
APAA affiliate member Lee White Galvis is on the Board of AFA, a nonprofit organization founded in 1909. Its mission is to bring world class art exhibitions to venues (generally outside of major cities) that would not otherwise have access to the highest caliber of visual art.
Springs Food Pantry
APAA member Steven Sergiovanni has been a volunteer at Springs Food Pantry for the past three years. The food pantry was established in 1992 to help local fishing and farming families struggling through tough winter month, and now they feed more than 200 families per week. Steven is on site every Monday organizing the weekly delivery from Long Island Cares and various farms in the area. He has also taken over the Pantry’s social media campaign, and has been supporting fundraising efforts by planning an annual Summer garden party and a chili and chowder cook-off with local chefs and restaurants in the area.
Coalition for the Homeless
APAA member Aileen Agopian has been part of Coalition for the Homeless for more than ten years as a board member, and as the auctioneer for their annual benefit gala, ARTWALK (pictured to the left). Aileen’s whole family volunteers as it is a powerful cause close to Aileen’s heart.
Oratorio Society of New York
APAA member Elizabeth Levine has sung with the Oratorio Society of New York for more than 25 years and donates regularly. The group is a semi-professional chorus of 200, performing three concerts per year at Carnegie Hall. For Elizabeth, singing major choral works by the greats such as Brahms, Verdi, Bach, Mozart, Stravinsky, as well as premiering new works by living composers, is the most transforming.
Pursuits Photo – Art Experience 2023 (Marla is second from the right)
Canadian Hadassah-WIZO (CHW)
As part of the Canadian Hadassah-WIZO’s fundraising, Chapters (a group of women), created local and national events to facilitate inspirational art experiences that engage their community. For the past two years, APAA member Marla Wasser, Pursuits Inc. Art Advisory, has been the lead sponsor for these events. In 2022, she sponsored the art experience, “Generations: The Sobey Family and Canadian Art” at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection. In 2023, the sponsored art experience was, “Living Artfully: Exploring the Intersection of Fine Art & Interior Design.”
These fundraising events are especially significant for Marla, as the donations were made in honour of her mother, Anita Kerzner, who passed away from cancer. Anita was a dedicated life member of the Rachel Chapter of the Canadian Hadassah-WIZO and Marla has continued this support in her honor.
