FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM MARСH 12, 2020 • BUZZ • THE QUEENS COURIER 53
buzz
Hundreds attend annual Queens Centers for
Progress fundraiser at Terrace on the Park
BY BILL PARRY
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Former heavyweight contender Gerry
Cooney attended the Queens Centers for
Progress 24th annual “Evening of Fine
Food” at Terrace on the Park as a special
guest chef. Th e event benefi ts the agency,
which is made up of people working
together to promote the independence,
community involvement and quality of
life of individuals with developmental
disabilities by providing person-centered
services and support.
Joining Cooney as a special guest chef
was John Luke of A&E’s “Storage Wars,”
and helping out with MC duties were
Queens’ own foodies Joe DiStefano,
Rick Bedrosian and Monsignor Jamie
Gigantiello. More than 30 restaurants
from across the borough off ered delicacies,
wines and spirits to more than
350 guests who sampled gourmet foods,
played casino games, took selfi es
and participated in the silent auction.
“Evening of Fine Food is a
wonderful opportunity for the
community to come together
to show its support for children
and adults with developmental
disabilities,”
Queens Centers
Photos courtesy of
Dominick Totino
Photography
Former heavyweight
contender
Gerry Conney
makes the
scene at Queens
Centers for
Progress annual
fundraiser at
Terrace on the
Park.
for Progress Executive Director
Terri Ross said. “We are grateful
to our board of directors,
our many generous restaurants
and sponsors, and everyone
who joined us for a very exciting
evening.”
In addition to returning
restaurants Marbella,
London Lennies, Papazzio,
Austin Ale House and
Bourbon Street, the event
also featured chefs from
the “Edison Café,” from
nearby Th omas A. Edison
CTE High School. Edison Café is
a school-run “Academics, Career
and Essential Skills” program
that teaches individuals with developmental
disabilities the how-to of hydroponic
farming, cooking, food management
and hygiene.
Some of the individuals in the program
matriculate to QCP’s own programs,
including pre-vocational job training.
“We have a great relationship with
QCP, thanks to the work they do serving
our students with disabilities
as they transition from high school,”
Th omas Edison’s Assistant Principal for
Instructional Support Services Andrea
Scolavino said. “Many of our students
attend QCP programs in which they
further their employability skills, build
social relationships, and develop into
productive members of society.”
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