New Highs for Poker and Blackjack!

New Highs for Poker and Blackjack!

Over 50 players and volunteers helped us raise even more money than last year as the Eighth Annual Casino Event went down last night in New York City. Congratulations to the new champions of Poker and Blackjack who shared some amazing prizes while helping the children of Fresh and Green Academy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The roulette table was a big hit and the raffle for Red Hot Chili Peppers and Yankees vs. Red Sox tickets added a lot of excitement to a noisy but friendly night of gaming.

A big thanks to our hosts at Connolly’s Pub Klub 45 on West 45th Street and to our always professional dealers and croupiers.

We hope to keep expanding this night which benefits our efforts in Africa and will keep you posted on the date next September for another chance to win for a good cause!

You Helped So Many While Having So Much Fun!

You Helped So Many While Having So Much Fun!

Thank you to all who came out and made a difference in the lives of the children while having a great time doing it.

It takes a lot to keep a school of 160 students that also provides meals for the children and their families running. While the task can seem daunting, it is a lot easier when we throw fun into the mix. We did just that, last month, when we hosted our 6th annual Poker/Casino Night fundraiser in New York City!

The night was filled with excitement and competition and six lucky winners took home amazing prize packages donated by so many generous companies.

The top three blackjack and poker players took home prize packages valued over $1,000 each and the final tables all received premium wine from NY Vintners and Tommy Vanik as well has haircuts from Cutting Edge Fred and massages from Physical Advantage Massage Therapy and Georgette Williams.

Our lucky raffle winner received a Proenza Schouler hand bag valued at over $1,600!

We were fortunate to have NYC Fair Trade Coalition Blogger, Amber  Harkonen, in attendance. See what she had to say.

Thanks again to those who made it out and a special thank you our many sponsors. Please be sure to patronize these business:

Proenza Schouler, Dirty2Purdy, Joe Joseph’s Photography, Duxiana Bed Co., Dr. Gregg Rubinstein, Rituals Cosmetic, Red Bass Brewing, The Shubert Organization, NY Vintners, Kate Hildebrandt Structural Integration, Da Marino Restaurant, Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, Crema Mexican Restaurant, Louis Licari, Desmond’s Steak House, H2 Windsurfing, Aperitivo, Museum of Natural History, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Da Noi, Dana Matthow, David Allen Marketing, Advanced Skin Care, Tony Robles and Amsterdam Billiards, City Crab, Big Daddy’s, Duke’s, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show with David Letterman, Robert Essel Photography, Movement Fitness, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse, Richart Chocolate, 46th Street Stationhouse, Georgette Williams, and Wall Street Walks

A great time was had by all and you helped us raise $11,000 for the children!

You can continue to make a difference by sponsoring a child or creating your own fundraising page and getting your friends and family involved too!

Together we can change the world!

YES I WANT TO CONTINUE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

The Fourth Annual Poker/Casino Night Fundraiser

The Fourth Annual Poker/Casino Night Fundraiser

Friends of Fresh and Green Academy hosted its fourth annual Casino Night on September 10, 2012, at Connolly’s in Midtown Manhattan. Over $10,000 was raised which will pay for the new addition of classrooms to enable us to add fifth grade. Many guests exclaimed that they had a great time and will be back next year!

Fresh and Green Academy, in Addis Ababa, has eight students entering fifth grade for which three additional classrooms are needed. These classrooms include a science lab, library, and general classroom. In Ethiopia, fifth through eighth grade is considered middle school. These newly constructed classrooms will be able to accommodate students for the next four years.

Thanks to money raised at this event and continued donor support, Fresh and Green Academy will also be able to admit ten new preschool children. These children now have hope for a future, which includes a well-rounded education and three nutritious meals daily.

The evening’s highlights included a poker & blackjack tournament, and new to this year, roulette tournament. Guests played for prizes while enjoying a full open bar and appetizers. Tickets to see Madonna in concert were among prizes in the roulette tournament. Along with the tournament, a raffle enticed guests to donate more money to the school with a chance to win prizes such as a Proenza-Schouler handbag, Stella & Dot jewelry and more.

Every guest who attended received a goodie bag that was filled with samples, including Scentsy and Lancome products, air plants from Lulindi, promotional coupons, and Friends of Fresh and Green playing cards.

Robert Essel from Robert Essel Photography was taking photos all night, which can be seen here.

Friends of Fresh and Green Academy would like to thank all attendees, volunteers, donors, and businesses that donated goods and services to make this year’s Casino Night a huge success for such a crucial cause.

Please watch for information on holiday fairs and other fundraising campaigns to ensure that Fresh and Green Academy and its 125 brilliant children continue to thrive!

$11,000 Raised to Feed and Educate the Children!

$11,000 Raised to Feed and Educate the Children!

Our “Third Annual Poker/Casino Night” fundraiser was a huge success. Over 100 people were in attendance at Connolly’s Pub NYC and a great time was had by all. The top three poker players and top two blackjack players took home thousands of dollars worth of prizes which included, Broadway show tickets, 2012 US Open tickets, Mets VIP tickets, year long house cleaning service, gym memberships, a private wine tasting party and helicopter rides to name a few. We raffled off a Marc Jacobs handbag, wine, and vacation packages. We also sold the Mothers Cooperative crafts and raised awareness of the need to

We raffled off a Marc Jacobs handbag, wine, and vacation packages. We also sold the Mothers Cooperative crafts and raised awareness of the need to insure Fresh and Green Academy continues to grow and thrive.

A special Thanks goes out to the committee members, volunteers and sponsors, without them the event would not have been possible.

Sponsors: Fitch Group, United Print Group, Marc Jacobs, Van Cleef and Arpels, 57th Street Chiropractic and Wellness, Dirty 2 Purdy, Robert Essel Photography, Mr. Dana Matthow, Jeff King LMT, Americana Tickets, Laurie Towers, Lloyd Goldsmith Fine Art, Harvey Luckman – Sport and Classic Auto Repair, Gold’s Gym, Christine Zona, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Boqueria Tapas Bar and Restaurant, Carnegie Hall, McGee’s Pub, Big Daddy’s, City Crab, Dukes, Georgette Williams LMT, Stacey Rosenberger, Ashok Sinha Photography, Kennedy’s, Natural History Museum, Dr. Rich Goldstein, Dara Manuel – Young Living, Crema, Dyker Beach Golf Course, Kate Hildebrandt – Structural Integration Rolfing

Volunteers and Committee Members: Charity Baker, Antoinette Bates, Dana Burnell, Pryor Callaway, Vivi Chestnut, Kati Curtis, Clarissa Feldman, Conner Hafner, Sojourner McBride, Mike Parng, Elyse Pasquale, Dr. Jason Piken, Craig Rosen, Jason Rubinstein, Peggy Shaw, Ed Soh, Jennifer Thai, John Winter, Jo Ann Wood

View Photos Here!

Thank you to all who were in attendance.

We look forward to an event next year!

It is not too late to donate!

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