Recent Events
gala “BELIEVE IN MIRACLES VI” • november 2008
Annual Fundraising Gala Celebrates Transformation of Faces and Lives of Children
Marino, Gail Marino, Barbara Marino, Joseph A. Marino,
Dr. Cheryl Tomasulo-Marino; Diane Romo, LBFF patient
coordinator; and from Edgewood Properties, Sheryl
Weingarten and Jack Morris. Photo: Dan Root
The Little Baby Face Foundation held Believe in Miracles VI at New York City’s Cipriani 23rd Street on November 20, 2008. Over 300 people attended the gala and helped to raise nearly $200,000 to support the Foundation in its efforts to transform the lives of children living with facial deformities. The evening’s events included a sumptuous buffet, dancing, raffle drawings, silent auction, and a live auction, conducted by Dr. Max Gomez, a medical reporter with WCBS-TV in New York.
Among the evening’s honored guests was Joan Lunden, well-known TV journalist and host of the DirectTV program Hometown Heroes. LBFF patient, Sharon Wong, was featured in a program segment in 2008, along with her doctor, Richard Elias, M.D, LBFF MAB Member, and Don Moriarty, LBFF Board Member. After receiving her award, Ms. Lunden spoke of her appreciation of LBFF’s work in improving the lives of children with deformities and the impact this Hometown Heroes segment had on her.
Special 2008 Believe in Miracles VI guests, Joan Lunden with
LBFF kids (l. to r.): Carla Linares, Louisa Carmona, Diego Sebastian,
Melanie Sulse and Marc Christian. Photo: Dan Root Nazario.
Photo: Dan Root
LBFF also celebrated a group of its own miracle workers, the Marino family. LBFF honored Barbara Marino, a Believe in Miracles VI Benefit Committee member and her family for their work to improve the lives of others in their own community, through their business, Century 21 Construction. In partnership with Edgewood Properties, Century 21 Construction sponsored the construction for a house and a neighborhood playground in Irvington, NJ, in conjunction with the ABC television program Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. A segment from the program was shown during the evening, and Dr. Thomas Romo, President and Founder of LBFF, presented the Marino family with an award to commemorate their commitment to LBFF and to their own community.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, Medical Advisory Board, and Gala Committee, LBFF shares its gratitude and appreciation for all the attendees and generous donors. Thank you for your commitment to changing the lives of others!