The 18th annual, and reportedly the last, Concerned Women of the Grove (CWOG) Breast Cancer Benefit, raising funds for Gilda’s Club NYC and Stony Brook Center for Breast Cancer Research, took place on August 3 at Heaven ’n’ Earth, home of Diane Romano and Patricia Goff, at the East End of Bayview Walk, under blessedly sunny skies, as rain that marked the early part of the day came to an end.
There was a silent auction of donated items, including photos, CDs, books, and baseballs, autographed by celebrities; gift baskets; and gift certificates from restaurants. Hors d’oeuvres, prepared under the supervision of Mella Yodice, poured out of the kitchen all afternoon. There were speeches by representatives of the beneficiaries and a show hosted by Donna Piranha and Bella.
Soprano Shirley Ritenour started the entertainment by singing a grand “God Bless America” a cappella. With DJ Nancy B assisting, Donna, in pink and gold, and trailing a long pink cape, offered “Last Dance” and “Raise Your Glass.” Bella urged “Be Italian,” from “Nine,” and dedicated her song, “I’m a middle-aged woman” (“Hot flash!”), to those present. Statuesque Viva Sexx’s song was “Don’t Leave Me This Way,” and Nikki Starr, as Cher, gave us “The Way of Love.’ Whore D’Oeuvre declared, “It’s my time to shine,” and Donna ended the performance with “(What have you done today to make you feel) Proud.”
During the show, Donna and Bella made a presentation to those volunteers who have made these 18 years of benefits happen, raising close to $1 million for the beneficiaries, and those recognized were CWOG Board Members Annie Scarpa and Rosie Graci, Nancy Famiglietti and Yuka Yoshimura, Paul Scarpa and Michael Scarpa-Burnett, Mella Yodice and Lucille Flora, Joanne Tavis and Lois Pisani, Bobbie Green and Doreen Rallo, and Anita Auricchio and Sharon Weinberg, and Honorary Board Members Korissa Falco, Bud Hendrikson, Ceejay Rosen and Peg Ryan, and Sue Panzer and Angela Smith.