Museum Ball on Saturday, June 10 at 7 p.m. Honorees: Rita & Frank Castagna
The 2017 Museum Ball recreates the glamorous world of Studio 54 where superstar fashion designer Halston, subject of Halston Style, the Museum’s current comprehensive retrospective, spent memorable evenings with his celebrity friends—Liza Minnelli, Bianca Jagger and Andy Warhol, among them. The Museum is thrilled to announce that the 2017 Museum Ball honors Rita and Frank Castagna who have been friends and supporters of the Museum for many years. Frank, a Museum trustee since 1998, is a past president of the Museum’s Board of Trustees and presently serves as Executive Vice President. Rita has participated on many committees and initiatives that have actively supported the Museum’s advancement. As principals of Castagna Realty Company and Americana Manhasset, the Castagnas have always been and continue to be involved in many charitable endeavors.
Held at the Museum’s historic Gold Coast mansion, the former Frick estate, the Museum Ball is one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the social season and is the Museum’s major annual fundraiser advancing support for exhibitions, public programs, special events, family and children’s programs, including Autism & the Arts and Adults with Memory Loss. Highlights of Night at Studio 54 include a cocktail reception, dining and dancing, irresistible raffle prizes including a Caribbean vacation and generous gift cards for luxury shopping destinations, and exciting auction prizes such as luxury goods from shoes and bags to couture attire from top fashion houses, jewelry, fine dining and one-of-a-kind experiences.
The raffle prizes at this year’s Ball are particularly enticing. The top prize is a fabulous five day/four night stay for six in a private villa at Anguilla’s CéBlue Villas & Beach Resort, valued at $5,250. Other tempting prizes include an Americana Manhasset $1,500 gift card and a London Jewelers $1,000 gift coin. Raffles are $100 each, three for $250, seven for $500. They may be purchased online at http://www.nassaumuseum.org/museum_ball_2017.php. Ball attendance is not required to win raffle prizes. All raffle proceeds benefit the Museum.
The sponsors for Night at Studio 54 are The Rita and Frank Castagna Family Foundation, Americana Manhasset and Wheatley Plaza. The Ball’s media sponsor is the prestigious magazine, New York Cottages and Gardens.
Night at Studio 54 is chaired by Museum Board President Angela Susan Anton of Anton Community Publications, Deirdre Costa Major of Americana Manhasset, and Museum trustee Laura Savini of Untamed Hair Productions. The Honorary Ball chair is Lesley Frowick, Halston’s niece and heir, curator of the Halston exhibition and author of Halston: Inventing American Fashion. Members of the 2017 Ball Committee include Esther Ambalu, Sara Ambalu, Dee Dee Brix, Eve Califano, Deborah A. Cannon, Judie Chessin,Victoria Crosby, Sharon Cuchel, Debra Del Vecchio, Lisa Eastman, Gayle Finkelman-Cohen, Peri Hoffer-Hinden, Rebecca Hollander, Joan Hope MacNaughton, Nasrin Mesbah, Joe Pescatore, Risa Pulver, Cynthia Senko Rosicki, Esq., Catherine Rosso, Joan R. Saltzman, Kandice Seitz, Ray Sikorski, Denise Silverberg, Priscilla Smith Gremillion, Margaret Stacey, Irina Sushko and Linda Ugenti.
The Ball’s Journal Committee is chaired by Rebecca Creavin and M. Patricia Janco-Tupper, both of Wells Fargo, and John Gutleber of Castagna Realty Co., Inc. Committee members include Russell C. Albanese, The Albanese Organization; Michael D. Brown, Esq., Ohrenstein & Brown, LLP; Jan Burman, The Engel Burman Group; Charles Chan, Harvest International; Ilene S. Cooper, Esq., Farrell Fritz, PC; Dr. Stephen J. Cuchel, Healthplex; Mona C. Engel, Esq.; Leonard Feinstein, Bed, Bath & Beyond; Brigitte Ferrada-Stetson, Capital One Bank; Emily Franchina, Esq., Franchina & Giordano, P.C.; Steven Klar, The Klar Organization; Suzanne Kirkpatrick Nelson, People’s United Bank; Robert O. Mayer, Prager Metis, LLC; and Michael Spector, Spector Group.
Bidding for the silent auction will again be powered by 501 Auctions. Guests will be able to access the Silent Auction conveniently from their smartphone or Internet-enabled mobile device throughout the evening. iPads will be available for those who do not have a smartphone. Additionally, assistants will be on hand to help with bidding and transactions. Ball attendance is not required to participate in the online auction. To register for the silent auction, go to http://501auctions.com/nassaumuseumball.
Tickets to Night at Studio 54, the 2017 Museum Ball, on Saturday, June 10 at 7 p.m. are $1000
per person at the Patron level, $500 per person at the Friend level and $350 per person at the Junior level (ages 40 and under). All but $200 of each ball ticket price is tax deductible. Tickets may be purchased online at nassaumuseum.org, link top of home page, or can be obtained by writing to [email protected] or calling the development office at (516) 484-9338, ext. 16. Call the development office for information on sponsorship opportunities and journal advertising.
Nassau County Museum of Art is located at One Museum Drive in Roslyn Harbor, west of Glen Cove Road, just off Northern Boulevard, Route 25A. For current exhibitions, events, days/times, and directions, call (516) 484-9337 or log onto nassaumuseum.org
