LeadingAge New York Adviser Fall 2015 Vol. 1 | Page 34

“Jazz Up In The Sky”
By Robert F. Salant, director of community relations, Flushing House, New York

L

ive Jazz was heard throughout the evening one Friday in June, as a group of
talented musicians brought their love for the elderly to new heights on the
Flushing House rooftop! “Jazz Up In The Sky” was a special fundraiser to benefit
the more than 300 older adults who live at Flushing House.
Headlining the evening’s performances was the famous and gifted jazz vocalist Deborah
Davis, backed by her group - Deborah Davis & A Few Good Men. This international star
has appeared with legendary greats Ray Brown and Lionel Hampton. She’s performed
at The Blue Note, Birdland, Village Vanguard, The Rainbow Room, for dignitaries at the
United Nations and President Bill Clinton. In 2004 Deborah and her band represented
the U.S. as Jazz Ambassadors to Latin America. A former member of The Shirelles,
she’s jammed with Bon Jovi and Billy Joel, opened for Diana Ross, Celine Dion, Eric
Clapton and Alicia Keys, to name a few.
Jazz Up In The Sky also featured two popular local jazz quartets. Christi
Gehrisch is lead vocalist of The Lowdown Stompers, specializing in music
of the 1920’s, 30’s & 40’s, including New Orleans Jazz, Swing and the
American Songbook. Christi was joined by Steve Peppas, who also
performed with his group Lucky Tones, four seniors who play jazz
standards plus classical jazz. The jazz festival featured a dance
floor boasting spectacular views of New York’s panoramic
skyline. Hey, it was the next best thing to “Dancing On
The Ceiling!” (Sorry Lionel!)
Their 250 guests were treated to a fantastic gourmet feast
prepared by Flik International and served up by Flushing House
Food Service Director Matt Ferris and Executive Chef Mohamed
Turay. Flushing House was honored to host this event with support
from their numerous partners in the social services, health care and aging
fields. In these hard economic times, their generous support and participation
was greatly appreciated. We are also particularly grateful to two major sponsors:
Flik International and Reliance Mechanical Services.

At the fundraiser, the Rose Kryzak Senior Leadership Award was presented to a special
resident of Flushing House: Mildred Puglia is all of 92 years young! She received the
award for opening and operating her “bring and buy” Specialty Shop in the lower level
of Flushing House, a thrift shop where all kinds of new and used donated goods are
on sale, and all proceeds benefit the residents of Flushing House. Through her efforts,
Mildred raised thousands of dollars for Flushing House. All are welcome to make
donations to her shop, which is open from 1:30 to 3 p.m. every Wednesday in the lower
level of Flushing House. For Mildred, this is a labor of love, and is a carry-over from the
days when she volunteered at North Shore Towers, where she lived before moving to
Flushing House. Congrats Mildred!
This fundraiser was for the sole benefit of the residents of Flushing House. As many
know, this not-for-profit is a charity with a special mission. Flushing House proudly
boasts that we’ve never asked a resident to leave their community when they can no
longer afford to pay their rent. To make this possible, The George Nussbaum Fund
subsidizes residents who have fallen on hard times. They receive no government
support for this fund. Only the cash raised from events like this, makes it possible for
some seniors to continue living here!
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Adviser a publication of LeadingAge New York | Fall 2015