Carnival for a Cure

March 10, 2013

Please scroll down for photos from this year's Carnival for a Cure!

The Eighth Annual Carnival for a Cure, benefitting the cure-focused work of the Diabetes Research Institute, took place at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City on Sunday, March 10, 2013.  A very good time was had by all!  More than 400 people attended, and there was something to do, eat, or watch for every one of them.  From arts & crafts, spin art, jewelry making, and face-painting for the little ones; to bounce house, gladiator joust, balloon art and foosball for the tweens; to  arcade games, racetrack, mechanical bull, Pop-up basketball, and the aptly named “Ultimate Gaga” for teens – everybody had a ball!  There were a seemingly endless array of food choices; from pizza and salads to sandwiches and sliders; from bars and chips to yogurt and desserts.  If anyone walked away hungry, they just weren’t trying!

Lots of new friends of the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI) Foundation were welcomed at the Carnival this year, along with those old and dear friends who have supported the event since 2005.  Among the new sensations this year was balloon maestro Joel Klein and his “Big Head Balloons”, who fascinated everyone with his artistic and whimsical creations.  Young author Crystal Rivera, whose book, Diary of a Life Less Sweet: Life with My Little Brother's Diabetes was available for sale at the Carnival, generously donated 100% of the day’s proceeds to the DRI Foundation.  The house was a-rockin’, courtesy of Clear Channel’s Z-100 Street Team Members Mary Grace Doligosa and Jeremy Finkel, who blasted a great playlist while giving away T-shirts, CDs, and DVDs.

Notable attendees included DRI Foundation board members Bonnie Inserra, Lindsey Inserra, and Ricardo Salmon and DRI-TV host Benno Schmidt III.

Very special thanks go out to the Carnival’s emcee, WCBS-TV reporter Chris Wragge, who graciously gave of his time and talent for the second year in a row.  Chris introduced the crowd to Willa Besner and presented Willa with a certificate of appreciation for the generous support provided to the DRI by Willa’s Wish Foundation.  This year alone, Willa’s Wish Foundation has contributed $40,000 to the cure-focused work of the DRI. 

There are many people to be thanked for their incredible contributions to the Carnival; starting with wonderful co-chairs Ronnie and Harry Agress; Meredith and Scott Buchwald; Jena Kingsley, and Brett and Daniel Sundheim.  Heartfelt thanks from the DRI Foundation to the hard-working Host Committee, the generous and committed financial sponsors and donors, led by the LJS Foundation; the terrific in-kind sponsors and vendors; the unbelievably committed group of volunteers that return year after year; and the Northeast region staff.

A great big thank-you to everyone who has supported Carnival for a Cure – this year and every year. 

Host Committee:
Emily Agress • Jenna and Adam Agress • Cheryl and Bill Bader
Leslie Hsu & Greg Besner • Sabrina & Scott Chosed*
Lauren & Steven Field • Jessica Gersten
Danielle & Troy Gregory* • Estee & Mark Gurwitz
Regina Hanna • Jodee & Steve Martin
Sarah Merians • Hayley & Lawrence Morrison
Leslie & Ricardo Salmon* • Denise & Tom Stern*
*Past Event Co-Chairs

 GENEROUS SPONSORS

Roller Coaster:
LJS Foundation

Game/Prize Booth:
Leslie & Ricardo Salmon • Brett & Daniel Sundheim
Willa's Wish Foundation

Bumper Car:
Brett Klein • Denise & Tom Stern

Moonwalk:
Ronnie & Harry Agress • The Bader Family
Amy & Jimmy Haber • J.P. Morgan
Plaza Construction • Sara & Joshua Slocum

Ring Toss:
Gary Appel / Property Tax Adjustors
Jennifer Berkowitz / BUMI
Berkowitz Pollack Brant • The Blau Family
The Buchwald Family • Lloyd Chosed
Dalia & Joseph Cohen • Chris Cummaro
The Field Family • Estee & Mark Gurwitz
Sandy & Jill Heller • The Karsch Family
LALIQUE • Kristine & Timothy Manoni
The Martin Family • Sharon & Simon Mendelson
Marcie & Jordan Pantzer
Podell Schwartz Schechter & Banfield LLP
David Shear • Penny & Jim Walzer

Family:
A2Z Professional Waterproofing & Restoration Inc.
Christopher Alex • Allied Beverage Group, LLC
Laura, Cliff, Elizabeth & Benjamin Atlas
Bancker Construction Corp. • The Berg Family
Ross Berman • Perri Brenner
The Budkofskys • Romy & Jeffrey Jagid
Joe Joseph • The Kessler Family
Mark Prince • Lewis Silberman
The Steiner Family • Jennifer & Craig Tamchin
Margie & Brian Wargon

GENEROUS PARTNERS:

Alex Toys • Big Head Balloons • Cabot Creamery •
Camp Nejeda Foundation, Inc. • CBS Cares • Cedar's Mediterranean Foods •
Chelsea Piers • Chobani Greek Yogurt • Chop't Creative Salad Company •
Clif Bars • Dezer Properties • Disney Publishing Worldwide •
Domino's Pizza • The Dr. Molar Magic Foundation • Earth Balance •
Edible Arrangements • Elizabeth Kaslow Balloons • Good Stuff Toys •
GoGo Squeez • Gymtime Rhythm & Glues • Hard Rock Cafe New York •
Hasbro • Honest Tea • Ivy Bakery •
La Esquina • Live Better Brands LLC • McLoone's Boathouse •
NY1 • The New York Fun Factory • The Nutrition Babes • Paper Mill Playhouse •
Perfect Curve, Inc. • Pinkalicious • Plushland Toys •
Pretzel Crisps • Sarah Merians Photography & Video • ShopRite •
Smoke 'N Pit BBQ • Spin Master Ltd. • Sutton East Tennis Club •
TH Foods, Inc. • Trader Joe's • Wink Frozen Desserts • Zico

MEDIA SPONSORS:

Photos courtesy of Marc Levine, Sarah Merians Photography & Video Company, and JP Terlizzi

To view more of Marc Levine's Carnival event photos, click here.

To view more of Sarah Merian's Carnival event photos, click here. 

To view more of JP Terlizzi's work, click here.

Caption for photo #5 below, Carnival Host Committee: front row, l-r: Sarah Merians, Emily Agress, Daniel Sundheim, Brett Sundheim, emcee Chris Wragge, Meredith Buchwald, Ronnie Cohen Agress. Back row, l-r: Cheryl Bader, Scott Buchwald, Leslie Salmon, Jodee Martin, Harry Agress, Denise Stern, Regina Hanna, Leslie Hsu Besner, Sabrina Chosed, Scott Chosed (Not pictured: Jenna and Adam Agress, Bill Bader, Greg Besner, Lauren and Steven Field, Jessica Gersten, Danielle and Troy Gregory, Estee and Mark Gurwitz, Jena Kingsley, Steve Martin, Hayley and Lawrence Morrison, Tom Stern)

Sarah Merians Carnival Co-Chairs Ronnie and Harry Agress flank WCBS-TV News Anchor Chris Wragge	Marc Levine Co-Chairs Scott and Meredith Buchwald with sons Adam and Josh and daughter Lauren	Marc Levine Co-Chairs Brett and Daniel Sundheim
JP Terlizzi DRIF Vice President Tom Karlya, National Board Member Bonnie Inserra, DRI-TV host Benno Schmidt III, and Northeast Board member Lindsey Inserra	Marc Levine Carnival Host Committee (see caption details at end of article)	Marc Levine National Board member Ricardo Salmon with (l-r) wife Leslie, son Mathias, and daughter Eliana
Marc Levine The Mallano Family with Reese's Pieces, a service-dog-in-training	Marc Levine Tom Karlya with Meredith Buchwald, Chris Wragge, Lauren Field, DRI Foundation Chief Operating Officer Deborah Chodrow, Scott Buchwald, and Steve Field	Sarah Merians Dr. Molar Magic and son
Marc Levine Does this make me look fat?	Sarah Merians On the cute meter, this is a 10!	JP Terlizzi Guitar hero
Marc Levine Katniss in training	JP Terlizzi I got it!	JP Terlizzi Girl power
Marc Levine Ready for her close-up	JP Terlizzi I got cake on my face!	JP Terlizzi Looking good
Sarah Merians Guys just want to have fun	Marc Levine Ride 'em cowboy!	Marc Levine Balloon master Joel Klein presents one of his creations
Sarah Merians Like father...	Sarah Merians ...like son.	Sarah Merians The Chosed Family ready for fun
JP Terlizzi The bountiful prize booth	Sarah Merians Chris Wragge receives his own Certificate of Appreciation from Scott and Lauren Buchwald	Sarah Merians Guess where I went today!
Sarah Merians The crowd gathers for the start of the program	Marc Levine Chris Wragge presents a Certificate of Appreciation to Willa Besner of Willa's Wish Foundation	Marc Levine Author Crystal Rivera, surrounded by her family, accepts her Certificate of Appreciation from Chris Wragge
JP Terlizzi Our hero!	JP Terlizzi Longtime volunteer Ron Spaulding	JP Terlizzi I'm done!