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Yonkers' Andrus Raises $140K At Light Up The Night Gala

YONKERS, N.Y. -- ANDRUS’ Light Up the Night fall gala raised $140,000 to benefit its programs and sensory therapy work serving children and families throughout the New York metropolitan area.

Top row, from left, honoree Andrew Malcolm, Steven Friedman, Jack McLaughlin, 
William Mulligan, Jr., Dave Dobell, and honoree Dan Bena. Seated, from left, Debbie Clark, Susan Guma, gala co-chair, and Elin Howe.

Top row, from left, honoree Andrew Malcolm, Steven Friedman, Jack McLaughlin, William Mulligan, Jr., Dave Dobell, and honoree Dan Bena. Seated, from left, Debbie Clark, Susan Guma, gala co-chair, and Elin Howe.

Photo Credit: Contributed
ANDRUS Light Up the Night gala’s three co-chairs, from left, Lori Henry, Jon Dorf and board member Susan Guma.

ANDRUS Light Up the Night gala’s three co-chairs, from left, Lori Henry, Jon Dorf and board member Susan Guma.

Photo Credit: Contributed
Kerron Norman, ANDRUS vice president of community-based programs,  and 
Hartford, Conn., residents and philanthropists Bradley and Barbara Baran.

Kerron Norman, ANDRUS vice president of community-based programs, and Hartford, Conn., residents and philanthropists Bradley and Barbara Baran.

Photo Credit: Contributed
Gala guests were encouraged to playfully experiment and explore sensory therapy equipment. A total of $30,000 was raised during the auction portion of the evening – all 
earmarked to construct the first ANDRUS residential sensory room.

Gala guests were encouraged to playfully experiment and explore sensory therapy equipment. A total of $30,000 was raised during the auction portion of the evening – all earmarked to construct the first ANDRUS residential sensory room.

Photo Credit: Contributed
Trying their hands at child’s play with sensory therapy items are, from left, honoree 
Andrew Malcolm, Yonkers Mayor Michael Spano, ANDRUS acting President and CEO 
Bryan R. Murphy and honoree Dan Bena of PepsiCo.

Trying their hands at child’s play with sensory therapy items are, from left, honoree Andrew Malcolm, Yonkers Mayor Michael Spano, ANDRUS acting President and CEO Bryan R. Murphy and honoree Dan Bena of PepsiCo.

Photo Credit: Contributed

On Friday, Oct. 24, more than 160 guests gathered with benefit co-chairs Jon Dorf, Lori Henry and Susan Guma at Westchester Country Club to raise funds for ANDRUS and celebrate two members of the community: Dan Bena of PepsiCo and Andrew Malcolm, a 1948 graduate of ANDRUS.

The event’s Fund the Future special appeal generated $30,000 specifically to fund ANDRUS’ Sensory/Body Regulation Program, which fosters the mind/body connection to help children cope with stress and trauma. Identifying effective means to manage stress can be transformative for children and provide valuable skills that will serve them well, far beyond their ANDRUS experience.

“Our annual benefit is a celebration of ANDRUS’ commitment to children and families and a chance for us to honor individuals like Dan and Andrew who make significant contributions to their communities near and far,” said acting President and CEO Bryan R. Murphy, “We are grateful to our partners, sponsors, co-chairs, board and staff for supporting this vital work and joining us to celebrate.” 

Each year, Malcolm makes a six-hour Santa Claus-inspired pilgrimage from Rochester to Yonkers to distribute presents to ANDRUS children and give back to the organization that he credits with transforming his life. While Malcolm enhances children’s lives on a local scale, honoree Bena has spent decades advocating for children on the global stage through his sustainable development and operations outreach work for PepsiCo Global Operations.

Both honorees are eager to support ANDRUS and its mission to nurture the lives of children and create bright futures for them and their families and characterize the values that the agency holds dear – service to children and families.

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