—by Lois Chazen

Despite the challenge of the heaviest snow storm in several years, leaving streets in midtown Manhattan lined with mountains of snow often more than six feet high, the Heart & Soul Auction held at Christie’s on February 13, 2006, was a great success. This year, more than $270,000 was realized from the event. Proceeds fund All Souls’ numerous Outreach programs during the coming year. Guests enjoyed bountiful hors d’œuvres and drinks, and listened to harp music while surveying the offerings in the Silent Auction.

Silent Auction

Stephen Lash

One couple in the audience, Jim and Kerianne Flynn, generously responded to a call from the auctioneer, Stephen Lash, Chairman of Christie’s, North and South America, bidding for the entire year’s budget for the Monday Night Hospitality program. Deborah and Al Jackson were honored by the Heart & Soul Charitable Fund’s Board of Trustees, citing the couple’s longtime association with and countless volunteer hours devoted to this event and to work on the Heart & Soul Fund Board. Unfortunately, the evening of the auction, Al Jackson was unable to accept the award personally. His flight from Colorado was cancelled due to a severe snowstorm. Therefore, he appointed his twin brother to receive the award in his place, adding to the levity of the evening. This year’s auction co-chairs were Alan Jones, who also served last year, and Carol Bradley. Next year, Tom Reece, recently retired CEO of a Fortune 500 company and Greg Slamowitz, a principal of the Ambrose Group will share the chairmanship.

Jim & Kerianne Flynn

The Heart & Soul Fund selects proposals from a number of community service groups, choosing those organizations in which a small grant will make a great difference. In addition to funding, members of the Grants Committee advise and work closely with the organizations selected. Among the groups to benefit this year are the Yorkville Common Pantry, and Project Sunshine, which provides free programs and services to children suffering from cancer, aids and other catastrophic diseases. Friends of PS 169, a school for emotionally disturbed children, and TADA!, an organization that through theater provides a place where children can develop their talents, are also beneficiaries. Other youth service groups supported are: Everybody Wins!, a literacy and mentoring agency, and Youth Services Opportunity Program, which provides community service jobs to enhance the growth of a young persons character.

Several groups received grants for their proposals. Musica Viva, the group founded by Walter Klauss, featuring the All Souls Choir, in addition to its usual concert series, also gives music education to children in East Harlem and free admission to Musica Viva concerts to Upper East Side seniors. Housing Works offers a multitude of services to homeless New Yorkers who suffer from hiv-aids. The Bridge Fund of New York gives individuals, temporarily unemployed or disabled, and families short-term financial support and counseling to prevent eviction or lapse in mortgage payments. Other beneficiaries are: Street Wise Partners for work towards assisting low income workers; Search and Care to aid quality of life for seniors, Sakhi for South Asian Women for work in the community to end violence against women originating from this region, and Rachel’s Room to provide computer and other job skills for unemployed and underemployed women.

The Board President of the Heart & Soul Charitable Fund, C. William Bechman, plans a weekend retreat in April to consider new proposals and ideas from church members and Heart & Soul Board members. Anne Bradley, who wrote the Auction Journal text and organized the slide presentation for the Live Auction, a Board member and Treasurer, said, “One of the ideas we are considering is greater use of the Internet. More charitable organizations than ever are using auctions to raise funds. This makes it increasingly difficult to obtain product and audience.”

Information concerning donations, the Fund and related matters may be found on the website: www.heartandsoulfund.org. Donations for the Auction include a wide range of possibilities: hotels, trip packages, restaurants, sports and theatre tickets; services such as beauty treatments, design experts and photography, caterers and objects, including antiques, furniture, paintings, sculpture, jewelry and decorative objects. “We hope that all All Souls members and friends will participate in acquiring lots and attend next year’s sale which happily, will be at Christie’s once more in February, 2007, Bill said. “A specific date will be announced.”