City-Wide Scavenger Hunt Raises $69K for NRPL

On Saturday, October 2nd two dozen teams fanned out across New Rochelle on a city-wide scavenger hunt, chasing clues and completing tasks to win prizes -- and raise money for the New Rochelle Public Library Foundation.

“Scaveganza” kicked off at the New Rochelle Public Library at 4 pm, with teams gathering to get their list of 34 “challenges,” and then the game was afoot. Teams were sent all over New Rochelle to visit local landmarks and search for the answers to questions dreamed up by NRPLF President Chris Selin and New Rochelle’s City Historian Barbara Davis. Sample tasks: Take a photo of your team in front of a WW I memorial, find New Rochelle’s regulation horseshoe court (Sharkey Courts, near Neptune Park), name the leading suffragist who lived in New Rochelle and founded the League of Women Voters (Carrie Chapman Catt), name the New Rochelle residents who have been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame (four: Mariano Rivera, Wille Mays, Lou Gehrig, Franklin Frisch). A scavenger hunt app tracked each team’ progress and posted the photos they sent using their smartphones.

Two hours later the tired but happy competitors returned to the NRPL for an after party with refreshments and awards. In the end, two teams emerged victorious: “We Showed Up,” led by Jeff Endervelt, raised the most money ($4,222) while “New Ro Amigos,” led by the Castellano sisters, scored the most points. Each team won a $200 gift certificate from the New Rochelle Business Improvement District (BID) to enjoy a team dinner at the restaurant of their choice. The memorable afternoon raised $69,358 for the New Rochelle Public Library Foundation.

NRPLF President Chris Selin was thrilled. "The NRPL Foundation's scavenger hunt, Scaveganza, a New Rochelle City first, was a huge success on so many levels, thanks to the 24 team captains and their teams who showed their competitive side while having a fun day and doing good for our Library. A big thank you, also, to our hard-working committee, all Library lovers, who helped pull this event together. It takes a team!"

Team Captains included Dale Barbaria (Huguenot Lake Geese), Daniel Bonnet (WestCOP’s New Rochelle CAP), Dierdra Gray Clark (A Novel Affair), Jeff Endervelt (We Showed Up), Jennie McFarland and Linda Fosina (Premium Points), Karen Hessel (Karen and Millie Team), Ken de Got (Friends of Melvin Dewey), Leslie Newman (No Names), Lori Morrow (Huguenot Hunters), Manuel Casanova (Pay It Forward New Rochelle), Margaret Chadwick (Mighty Mouse Brigade), Mary McDonnell (Lions), Matthew Rooney (NewRo is FUNdamental), Melissa Bongiorni and Michelle Oliveros (Martini Girls!), Mica Wilson (Sleuth Slayers of the Sound), Michael Rosenthal (Rosie’s for New Rochelle), Nick Demeo (Havoc), Paul Martin ((New (Ro) Kids on the Sound), Rosemarie Castellano (New Ro Amigos), Sarah Langlois (The Lit Squad), Stephanie Tomei (Pacers), Susan Kettner (Lawyers in Love (with the Library)), Thomas Geoffino (New Ro Rotarians) and Walter Ritz (HOPE Community Services).

Sponsors of the Scaveganza were New York Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital, Cappelli Organization, Douglas Elliman, MacQuesten, Signature Bank, George T. Davis Funeral home, RXR, Ellen and Steve Sonet, M & T Bank, NRNY City of New Rochelle, Marjorie Bliss, Masonry Depot, New Rochelle Radiology, Century 21, the Rotary, the New Rochelle Business Improvement District (BID).

The Scaveganza committee, headed by Chris Selin, included Cheryl Archbald, Lisa Davis, Leslie Demus, Lynn Green, Lisa Itzkowitz, Theresa Kump Leghorn, Alisa Mannis, Rod Rolett, and Stephanie Tomei.