Adventures in Learning, the after-school academic and enrichment program for underserved Manhasset and Great Neck students, will hold its Annual Wine Tasting Soirée on April 20 at Manhasset Bay Yacht Club.
Cocktails begin at 7 p.m. with dinner at 8 p.m. Enjoy the magnificent decorations by Westhampton floral designers Steve and Debbie Boehl of Honeysuckle & Roses while listening to the music of DJ Liquid Todd.
This year’s honorees are Manhasset community advocates Regina and Gene Papa and Manhasset Principal Dr. Dean Schlanger, who is retiring.
For decades, Regina Papa has volunteered with the Scouts, the Parent Council, Manhasset Student Aid and the Manhasset BOE’s Citizen Advisory Committee. She was PASE’s liaison to the School Board, educating parents and the community about methods to assist special help students. She also serves on the Board of Hugs Across America that sends Teddy bears to children in crises born out of 9/11.
Gene Papa attended Xavier High School in Manhattan. He served a tour of duty in Vietnam as a Captain in the US Marine Corps. After graduation from Fairfield University, he earned an MBA from Fordham University. He was a Senior VP/Investment Advisor at Merrill Lynch for thirty-eight years. The Papas created a unique Adventures’ fundraising tradition, the “Elves Program,” to collect and wrap holiday gifts for each Adventures child and parent. Every year they open their home to volunteers in order to prepare these gifts.
Dr. Dean Schlanger became the Manhasset Secondary School Principal in July, 2007. He soon met with Adventures’ Diana Holden and the late Angel Branch with whom he developed a close partnership to help Adventures’ students, thereby creating the Bridge Program to specifically service former Adventures-in-Learning students who were beginning their middle school experience at the Secondary School. Dr. Schlanger has maintained an open-door policy, welcoming all students, parents, and staff to share their concerns and needs. Always seeking to make improvements, Dr. Schlanger has been part of a progressive team that has seen incredible growth, both in and out of the classroom.
Adventures’ Executive Director Diana Holden remarked, “I am thrilled that we can once again celebrate Adventures with this year’s in-person Soirée. As we move forward, our honorees represent and symbolize the best in our community with their dedication and leadership, despite and during the pandemic. Everyone at Adventures thanks them from the bottom of our hearts for their service.”
Soirée tickets are $195 per person and $125 for young adults ages 21 to 30. To purchase tickets, raffles or underwriting go to www.Adventures-in-Learning.org or send a check to Adventures in Learning, 65 High Street, Manhasset, NY 11030. The very popular Silent Auction and Kash for Kids Raffle are returning.
The Digital Journal will be on display during the event. Ad prices are: Full Page $500, Half Page $250, and a Quarter Page $100. Donors will receive a CD copy of the journal.
Founded in 1969 by the Congregational Church of Manhasset, Adventures is a nonprofit organization. Donations are critical to its programs since it does not receive any government or public school funding, relying entirely on private donations. An after-school education and enrichment program, it is located at the Hagedorn Community Center at the Manhasset/Great Neck EOC Building at 65 High Street, Manhasset dedicated to improving the lives of children in Manhasset and Great Neck in need of after-school care and instruction.
