Project Sunshine Celebrates 15th Annual Benefit Gala

The 15th Annual Project Sunshine benefit celebration took place at Cipriani’s on 42nd Street on May 3, 2018, with the Tylis Family Foundation as the title sponsor. Joe Weilgus founded Project Sunshine to assist pediatric patients who had spent long periods of time in the hospital with different forms of learning and entertainment. In 1998 he had visited a friend and was overwhelmed by the number of children who looked bored or lonely. It has been found that attitude has a direct correlation to health. Project Sunshine has assisted over 150,000 pediatric patients and families in the U.S. Canada, China, Israel, and Kenya so far. The evening was hosted by Sesame Street actor, Emilio Delgado, who was joined by former castmates Roscoe Orman, Bob McGrath and Sonia Manzano for a live rendition of Bienvenidos to open the evening. Later into the programming guests were treated to an intimate set by Grammy-nominated Singer-Songwriter Tori Kelly, who performed an acoustic version of Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing.

project Sunshine Crowd
Project Sunshine 2
Project Sunshine Shrimp
Cipriani food

Evidence-based programs were created to focus on healthy living, validation, and play. Healthy living programs include Better Bites where children can engage in learning about better choices for food and how it directly impacts their health. Other initiatives include Active Agents, Creating Calm, Caregiver Wellness, Star for a Day, Tutoring and Mentoring, Program Boxes, Book Club, Party Time and of course, Sending Sunshine.

Supporters include Sunshine Benefactors Bank Leumi, Blackstone Charitable Foundation and Kathy Greenberg, Greenberg Traurig, Haynes and Boone, LLP and Judy and Fred Wilpon Family Foundation. Sunbursts Patrons include Murat Agirnasli and Dupont among many others. Sunshine supporters include the David Geffen Foundation and Devon and Peter Brigger.  Individual donations include Cindy & Rich Rubino and Ryan and Emilia Serhant and more. This is only a fraction of the number of sponsors that have made large charitable donations, sponsors who have provided goods and volunteers who have donated countless hours in order to change a child’s day, week and life. On May 3rd, the Empires State Building glowed yellow and orange in honor of Project Sunshine as a beacon to remind us that there should be more Project Sunshines globally. 

Emilio Delgado, Roscoe Orman, Sonia Manzano & Bob McGrath open the evening with a rendition of Bienvenidos (Credit Steve Eichner)
Emilio Delgado, Roscoe Orman, Sonia Manzano & Bob McGrath open the evening with a rendition of Bienvenidos Photo by Steve Eichner
Joe Weilgus, Stella Li, Michael White (Credit Steve Eichner)
Joe Weilgus, Stella Li, Michael White. Photo by Steve Eichner
Emilia Bechrakis, Ryan Serhant at PS (Credit Steve Eichner)
Emilia Bechrakis, Ryan Serhant. Photo by Steve Eichner

Bill de Blasio, New York City Mayor, and Governor Andrew Cuomo both sent letters of recognition to Project Sunshine. Helen Ficalora designs a 14k gold sun charm where 100% of the proceeds benefit Project Sunshine and Roxanne Assoulin donates 20% of the proceeds from her yellow “follow the Sun” bracelet.  

This year Project Sunshine’s recipient of the Business Leadership award went to Stella Li, President of BYD Motors Inc. and Chef Michael White, Head Chef & Co-Owner of Altamare Group received the Visionary Award and the evening was emceed by Emilio Delgado, of Sesame Street.

The evening could not have been such a success without the leadership of event Co-chairs Ahmass Fakahany, Shawn McGowen, Al Tylis and Vice-chairs Bernard M. Rosof, Matthew Skurbe, Robin Wilpon Wachtler, Joseph Weilgus and Howard Weiser.

In addition to a silent auction, the night included live bidding conducted by C. Hugh Hildesley of Sotheby’s, on items such as a Chinatown foodie tour hosted by Andrew Zimmern and two private dinners for 12 at Michael White’s restaurant Vaucluse. Chef White personally auctioned off the two dinners, raising over $25,000 for the organization.

Zaina Gohou, Danielle Herrington, Enly Tammela (Credit Steve Eichner)
Zaina Gohou, Danielle Herrington, Enly Tammela Photo by Steve Eichner
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 03: Miss USA Kara McCullough attends the Project Sunshine's 15th Annual Benefit Celebration at Cipriani 42nd Street on May 3, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Kris Connor/Getty Images for Project Sunshine)
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 03: Miss USA Kara McCullough attends the Project Sunshine's 15th Annual Benefit Celebration at Cipriani 42nd Street on May 3, 2018 in New York City. Photo by Kris Connor/Getty Images for Project Sunshine

VIP Guests included- Miss USA and Project Sunshine volunteer, Kara McCullough, former Miss Teen USA, Kamie Crawford, TV journalists Tamsen Fadal, Irv ‘Mr. G’ Gikofsky, Magee Hickey, Danielle Herrington, SI cover model, Sadie Newman, Victoria’s Secret model, Darrel Young, NFL player and models Abi Fox, Elizabeth Turner, Enly Tammela, Zaina Gohou, Sigrun Jonsdottir, Brianna Blount, Karina Zabirova and Dominic Augustin.

For More information on Project Sunshine go HERE