“Game On” A Game Changer for NRPL Foundation

The New Rochelle Public Library Foundation raised $75,000 with an after-hours game night for 200 grown ups on March 11th: For the “Game On” fundraiser the NRPLF turned the library into a giant mini-golf course – with help from a professional mini golf company -- and created spaces for a variety of games, from a Mahjong “parlor” to a Ping Pong area, with nooks set aside for “lightning” Scrabble and Wordle. Guests also enjoyed music (including karaoke), nibbles, liquid libations and a whiskey tasting on Friday night.

Then on Saturday morning children and families were invited to try their hand at the mini-golf course free of charge: More than 500 people turned out over the course of a rainy afternoon.

Local businesses and organizations got in on the fun by sponsoring one of the 18 “holes”: Montefiore of New Rochelle decorated #16 with balloons, Modern Restaurant created a “hazard” out of a wooden pizza paddle (with a golf ball-size hole cut out) while the City of New Rochelle’s Fire and Police departments used tools at hand – “Caution” tape, crime scene markers and firefighter helmets and boots – to dress up #15.

The event’s Lead Sponsors were The City of New Rochelle/NRNY, RXR, Cappelli Organization and Masonry Depot; Event Sponsors were Northstar Properties, M & T Bank, Montefiore New Rochelle and Twinings/Pratt Landing.

“Game On really put the “fun” in our annual fundraiser,” says Chris Selin, NRPLF President. “We had a big Gala last spring, so we wanted to try something different this year, and Game On was just the ticket. It gave our guests a chance to hang out and enjoy some friendly competition while getting a look at what we’ve accomplished inside the library, like the renovation of the 3rd floor currently in progress, and helping us raise funds to keep the NRPL cutting edge.”

Vice President Lynn Green added that in addition to building renovations the NRPL Foundation funds programs like the popular Museum Passes, allowing families free access to many local and NYC museums, as well as updated technology -- like computers and software in the children’s room at the Main Branch as well as the Huguenot Children’s Library.

Game On’s “Special Sponsors” included Libations Sponsor: Ally and Tom Gallin; 19th Hole Sponsors: Lynn and Steve Green, Theresa and Tom Leghorn; Ping Pong Sponsor: Chris Selin and Jeff Endervelt; Teen Game Room Sponsor: Rhiannon Navin; Scrabble Scramble Sponsor: Timothy C. Idoni; MahJong Parlor Sponsor: Masonic Care Community.

Game On “Super Fan” sponsors included Linda Kelly Fauci and Peter Fauci; Charles Fazzino, Museum Editions, Ltd. ; Deborah and Damon Maher ; Steve Tenore, George T. Davis Funeral Home. Game On “Fan” sponsors included Cleanrite Carpets; Creative Library Concepts; Leslie Demus and Ralph Dawson; Jamie and Derek Deutsch; Downtown New Rochelle BID; Judy Factor and Bob Wechsler ; Stephanie and Douglas Gould; KT Electronics; Monroe College; NCG Insurance; R & N Construction; Ann and Rodd Rolett; and Shaw, Perelson, May & Lambert, LLC.

Game On Hole Sponsors included: Architectural Preservation Studio; The Bowles Family; Contribute LLC; Ximena Francella; Fred’s Firewood; Melinda Abrams and Doug Hocking; Iona University; James Caspi, Keystone Realty; JB Movers; The Kesten Family; Maffei Landscaping; Modern Restaurant; Montefiore/New Rochelle; New Rochelle Fund for Educational Excellence; Yadira Ramos-Herbert; Rotary Club of New Rochelle; The Sharing Shelf/ Deborah Blatt and Shmuel Vasser.

The Game On committee was co-chaired by Lynn Green and Chris Selin; the Steering Committee members included Liz Aiello, Leslie M. Demus, Jamie Deutsch, Judy Factor , Ally Gallin, Tom Geoffino, Erin Harrell , Lisa Itzkowitz, Theresa Kump Leghorn, Judith Redlener, Tobe Sevush, Stephanie Tomei, Sharon Weeks and Mica Wilson. In addition, the Event Committee members included Russell Baker, Renee Barnes, Catie Stern and Noam Bramson , Margaret Chadwick, Ralph Dawson, Derek Deutsch, Jeff Endervelt, Linda Kelly and Peter Fauci , Tom Gallin, Stephanie and Douglas Gould, Steven Green, Melinda Abrams and Doug Hocking, Melia Hollar, Elizabeth Joseph, Alisa and Ted Kesten, Tom Leghorn, Alonza Lloyd, Leslie Newman, Amy and Rich Pace, Linda Richardson-Godfrey, Joshua Riley, Matt and Jennifer Rooney, Gwen and Gary Salmo, Joe Tomei, Meg and Matt Tym, and Judy Factor and Bob Wechsler.

The New Rochelle Public Library Foundation is a nonprofit organization that raises resources and provides advocacy to keep our library vibrant, up-to-date, and able to serve the diverse needs of the New Rochelle community. The Foundation supports Library initiatives that enhance opportunities for lifelong learning, exploration, and public discourse. Established in 1993, we have raised more than $3 million for the Library, stepping in as a matching funder to leverage support to bring additional dollars in New York State grants. These funds have been used for significant capital investments, including the purchase of computers for public access to the Internet; renovation of the reference and information service area; refurbishing of the lobby; creation of a teen area; development of a local history room; creation of the Business Opportunity Center, Quiet Reading Room and Community Conference Room; Plus renovations to the Ossie Davis Theater and the entire Second Floor. The Foundation also supports discounted passes for area museums, teen summer programs, childhood language-learning materials and other initiatives that enrich the lives of New Rochelle residents. For more information go to www.nrplfoundation.org.