Apr. 9, 2014:  Springtime in Bronxville means it's time for Gramatan Village's annual May Magic benefit, which will be held this year on Sunday, May 4, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Siwanoy Country Club.

Carol Godfrey and Tracy Lilly are co-chairing this year's committee, whose members include Mary Taylor Behrens, Suzanne Bloomer, Peggy Conway, Christine Fitzgibbons, Nonie Flannery, Susan Forst, Nancy O'Connor Karol, Maggie Marrone, Liz Sprague, Jane Vergari, Kerry Walsh, and Bea Welch. Member services/program coordinator Kathryn Urbina provides invaluable support to the benefit committee, and executive director Julie Dalton works with the committee throughout the planning process.

As always, the benefit will be a convivial and fun affair with a wine reception and delectable hors d'oeuvres. But the main event will be the not-to-be-missed show performed by Magical Nights from New York City. This extraordinary magic show might include cross-country mental telepathy, the mysterious return of missing personal items, and the appearance, seemingly out of thin air, of new items. Even the most skeptical viewers will be wondering, "How did they do that?"

The highlight of the afternoon will be the presentation of the J. Rockhill Gray Award to Richard Dresdale for his dedication and service to the community. Richard is currently chairman of the board of governors of Lawrence Hospital Center in Bronxville. He served as a member of the Bronxville Board of Education from 2002 to 2008.

Richard is a managing director and co-founder of Fenway Partners, a middle market private equity firm based in New York. He also serves on the president's leadership council of Brown University, of which he is a graduate. Additionally, he is a member of the board of directors of the Brown University Sports Foundation. He is also a member of the Westchester Community College Foundation.

All proceeds from the benefit will go to support the programs and services of Gramatan Village, an organization whose mission is to help area residents live safely and comfortably in their homes as they grow older.

Admission to May Magic is $100 per person, and all but $25 is tax-deductible. We are pleased to announce a $20,000 matching gift challenge for new and incremental contributions. A new donor's contribution will be matched 50%. For previous donors' contributions, any increase over their 2013 contributions will be matched 50%.

For additional information or to make a reservation, please call the Gramatan Village office at 914-337-1338.

Gramatan Village is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to offer support and information to Bronxville-area residents so that they can continue to live safely and comfortably in their homes as they grow older and, in some cases, need specialized health care and non-health care services. For more information, visit www.gramatanvillage.org.

Pictured here (L to R):  Seated:  Kathryn Urbina, member services/program coordinator for Gramatan Village; Carol Godfrey and Tracy Lilly, May Magic co-chairs; Julie Dalton, executive director of Gramatan Village; standing: Peggy Conway, Liz Sprague, Nonie Flannery, Kerry Walsh (board member), Maggie Marrone, Suzanne Bloomer (board member), and Jane Vergari. Missing:  Susan Forst, Bea Welch, Nancy O'Connor Karol, Christine Fitzgibbons, and Mary Behrens.

Photo by N. Bower