Pfizer Silent Auction Benefits Local Charities

From Pfizer Pearl River:Colleagues at the Pfizer Pearl River site held a silent auction recently to benefit People to People of Nanuet, N.Y., and United Way of Rockland. Dozens of colleagues donated items, some of them handmade, and many others placed bids on the wide variety of items available. Pfizer turned over the amount of the winning bids to the two local charities, just as it did last year when a silent auction was first held.

“I want to thank you again for helping our struggling neighbors. We can’t do what we do without you. You guys are an incredible team, an incredible jewel, really, here in the Rockland community,” Diane Serratore, executive director of People to People, said to Pfizer Pearl River colleagues at the conclusion of the silent auction. “This is an incredible event. Please know that there are children and seniors tonight that will have food on their table because of what you’ve helped us to do.”

“Thank you for your continued support, thank you for your cooperation with the United Way of Rockland, and thank you for your commitment,” said Jacqueline Goldstein, vice president of United Way of Rockland, who also spoke to Pfizer colleagues during the festive silent auction at the company’s North Middletown Road site in Pearl River.

Pfizer colleagues offered craft works they created, and several individuals and teams assembled themed gift baskets for the silent auction. Vacations at the Jersey Shore were auctioned, as were experiences with executives for golfing, bass fishing, sailing on the Hudson River, and lunches. Cheryll Scarangella was among the Pfizer colleagues donating items to the silent auction, offering four of her photographic prints to bidders.

The silent auction to benefit United Way and People to People was organized by the Pfizer Pearl River community engagement team, comprised of Karen Albert, Jenna Banta, Karen Breslow, Leo Letendre, Judy Lucas, Kayleigh Maher, Lugene Maher, Barbara Peters, Trisha St. Fleur, Mikele Simkins and Pam Soni.

“It was great to once again see colleagues get involved for a great cause,” said John Sorrentino, Pfizer Vaccine Research and Development’s vice president and chief operating officer. “There was a lot of interest and enthusiasm around this event.”

Pfizer supports People to People throughout the year, and is hosting a food drive at the Pearl River site March 19-21. Pfizer Pearl River colleagues are also involved in numerous activities to benefit United Way, including a fundraiser recently held at the Growler & Gill Craft Beer Bar in Nanuet, N.Y.

People to People, based in Nanuet, is Rockland County’s largest hunger relief organization. It serves an average of 1,545 Rockland households per month, and also provides weekly food packages to approximately 270 children in afterschool programs at the Nyack Center, Haverstraw Center and Martin Luther King Center as well as Rockland Community College for their students in need.

Nyack-based United Way of Rockland is an independent organization run by volunteers and staff who focus on addressing long-term solutions for health and human Services problems in Rockland County. Its activities range from raising money from businesses, their employees and the broader community to evaluating what local programs should be funded. United Way brings together a local network of nonprofit, corporate and government partners to implement initiatives that go beyond what single organizations could accomplish alone.

Pfizer’s North Middletown Road location is one of the company’s primary research sites and a central hub for vaccine and oncology research and development. There are more than 750 employees and contractors currently working for Pfizer in Pearl River.

Image Via Pfizer Pearl River