It was a night of fund-raising, silent auctions, music and entertainment. Co-founders Priscilla Arena and Stephanie Mendelson made the speeches of the evening, which were poignant and heart-warming. There was not a dry eye in the room the moment they spoke and scared the statistics of what the amount of money it takes to raise an autistic child over the course of a lifetime (minimum of $1.4 million).
With SASI though, they aim to improve the lives of children and their families that are affected by autism, and they offer them support and resources. These include parent support groups, sibling support groups, lending library, social events, birthday party club, life skills program, as well as vocational coaching, among others.
“The Blue Party” featured radio host Dan Romano of “The Dan Romano Radio Show” with co-host Richard Kern, WWE superstar Mick Foley, World Boxing Council (WBC) champion Joe Smith Jr., freestyle superstars TKA, musician Dan Nelson (formerly of Anthrax), comedians Rich Walker and Paul Bond, Suffolk County legislator Sarah S. Anker, actor Angel Salazar from Scarface (with the classic line: “Chichi get the yayo”), veteran broadcaster Eric Koppelman from WLINY, and radio personality/TV host Janet Russell from the Janet Russell Show and Media Magnets, among others.
The Verdict
Overall, SASI’s “Blue Party” was a bold and brave event that truly united Long Island for this great, and ever-increasing cause. A job well done by all involved. Two giant thumbs up.
To learn more about SASI, check out its official website.
