News and Past Events: Kids Raise $$ for ALS Julia Hamelburg of Potomac, Maryland, asked the guests at her ninth birthday party to bring a donation to Columbia’s ALS Center instead of a present, raising a total of $240.00. Julia chose Columbia’s ALS center because her grandfather, Dr. Henry Kent, had been a patient here. In her letter, Julia told us, “I’d like the money to help find a cure for ALS. I hope these checks can make a difference and save many people from suffering.” Eight year old Vincent Mangano and his six year old sister Julianna sold lemonade and candy to raise $120.00 for ALS research. The children set up a stand in front of their grandmother Rosemarie Cavanagh’s Eltingville home on Staten Island at the end of August. The children’s father Stanley Mangano matched their earnings with a donation from his business. Holy Name of Jesus School in Valhalla, New York held a “Dress Down Day” in early October when students were encouraged to wear their favorite baseball team colors or gear to raise money and awareness to fight ALS. The collection taken raised $200.00 for our Research Center. Wings Over Wall Street The sixth annual Wings Over Wall Street gala was held on September 28th at the New York Marriott Marquis, raising $747,000 in support of the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s ALS research program. The funds will benefit the MDA/ALS research teams at Columbia University’s Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Research Center and the Center at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Attendees, including celebrities and New York financial leaders, gathered for a VIP cocktail reception, live and silent auctions, and a car raffle. Awards also were given for outstanding contributions towards the effort to find a cure for ALS. Barbara Bowen Memorial Golf Outing Eighteen holes of golf on a brisk fall afternoon were followed by a delicious dinner and a silent auction featuring get-aways for golfers and vacationers alike. It was the second annual Barbara Bowen Golf Outing, an all day event created by Ross Bowen to remember his wife Barbara’s courageous battle with ALS, and to provide hope for others through research. The event raised close to fifty thousand dollars. Spooktacular Success The ingredients were a silent auction, a costume ball, a gourmet buffet, a magic show for kids, dj dancing, flower filled pumpkins and the community of La Grange, New York. They came together on Friday, October 28, 2006 in the Arlington High School gymnasium to create the first annual Halloween Spooktacular Ball, held in honor of Debi Christensen, with the proceeds of over $7,000 benefiting Columbia s ALS research. Our thanks to the organizers: Holly Nenni, Lisa Bologna, Michele Besnier and Darlene Gardener, and to the Christensen family, for their efforts.