Divas pg 3 9-22-11
- Details
- Category: Past Issues
caption, page 7:
Donation
David T. Panteleakos, owner of Broadway Live Productions, LLC, presents checks to Robert Smanik, CEO, and Pamela Watts, director of Development, for Day Kimball Healthcare’s Deary Memorial Cancer Fund, (right) and Tonya Brock and Judy Haines of Habitat for Humanity of Northeast Connecticut (left). DIVAS in Concert raised $30,000 to benefit the two organizations. Courtesy photo.
DIVAS deliver
for charity
PUTNAM --- DIVAS in Concert, a Broadway Live Productions musical fund-raiser held in August, raised $30,000 to benefit Day Kimball Healthcare’s Deary Memorial Cancer Fund and Habitat for Humanity of Northeast Connecticut.
The musical celebration featured 13 female performers, an 18-piece orchestra, comedic skits, choreography, and songs made famous by notable divas of screen and stage.
At the helm of this fund-raising initiative was Director David T. Panteleakos, owner of Broadway Live Productions. Panteleakos created the production company in 2000 to provide an outlet for creative endeavors that would also benefit good causes. Panteleakos said, “Our intention is to raise funds for those in need, and leave our audiences with an empowering message that will help others. The concept of entertaining to empower seems to work because since the inception of BLP, we’ve raised over $500,000 to benefit local charities... and we’ve had a lot of fun doing it.”
Robert Smanik, president and CEO of Day Kimball Healthcare, said that the funds will "help us provide preventive care and cancer-related services to individuals in northeast CT who otherwise may not have the financial resources available to obtain needed medical attention. The DIVAS'effort provides a real boost to a fund that has become heavily relied-upon by so many in our community. We are grateful for the time and talents lent by everyone involved in the production.”
DIVAS in Concert also featured DKH’s Dr. Erica Kesselman as mistress of ceremonies and cameo appearances by Drs. Joseph Botta, and Marc Cerrone.
Funds were also raised to benefit Habitat for Humanity’s recent build in Brooklyn,. “Thanks to the generosity of Broadway Live Production’s DIVAS in Concert, our Habitat family hopes to be in their new home before the holidays,” said Judy Haines, president of Habitat’s Northeast CT chapter. “During the concert, the song ‘Home’ really captured the emotion of why we all volunteer our time to such special causes.”