Three Yorktown Women to be Honored at Annual Fundraising Event

Three women – Monica Garrigan, Jane McCarthy and Donna D’Andrea of Yorktown Relay for Life – will be honored at the annual fundraising event sponsored by The Foundation for Excellence in Yorktown Education.

The 'Casino Night and Dinner Dance' will be held on Saturday, March 2 at the Doubletree Hotel in Tarrytown from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m.

The women are being honored for their "excellence" in the community, said Shari Besterman, president for the  Foundation for Excellence. Garrigan, McCarthy and D’Andrea, who each have children in the Yorktown Central School District, are described as "smart, caring, enthusiastic" women and the back-bone of Yorktown’s Relay for Life.

Yorktown has been host to the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life since 2006 and has raised $1.3 million.

"The work to host this event is arduous, and yet the smiling faces of Monica [Garrigan], Jane [McCarthy] and Donna [D’Andrea] never show it," Foundation for Excellence Vice President Jane DeCoursey said. "We are so grateful that Yorktown has these three additional women to inspire, enrich and bless our families."

The cost for the 'Casino Night and Dinner Dance' is $100 per person, $900 for a table of 10 guests if prepaid. It includes dinner, dancing, open bar, casino tables, silent auction items. 

In addition, you can purchase a raffle ticket for a chance to be a featured as an extra in a movie. The drawing will be held at the March 2 fundraising event. You can purchase tickets in advance online ($20 each or three for $50) You do not need to be present to win. 

The upcoming feature film – Hang Tough, Paul Mather – is scheduled to begin shooting this summer in and around Yorktown Heights. It is written and directed by David Levin, who lives in Yorktown and has two children in the Yorktown school district.

The film is about a gifted 12-year-old baseball player who moves to Yorktown to begin medical treatments for a rare blood disease. It is the story of Paul’s love for the game, his family’s struggle with his disease, and the relationship that forms with a caring community. 

For more information on the raffle tickets, click here. 

The Foundation of Education sponsors a series of fundraising campaigns throughout the year receiving donations from corporations, local business and individuals. 

"Every contribution made is an investment in our children, assuring that the future of our community remains bright and stable," Besterman said.

For more information about the fundraising event, contact the Doubletree Tarrytown at 914-631-5700 for information. Pay by credit card at www.ffeyorktown.org.

Monica Garrigan

Monica began working with the American Cancer Society 28 years ago, in cancer prevention and early detection education. 15 years ago she volunteered at the Mercy College Relay, and was so moved that the next year she gathered a group of friends and formed a team. Their team traveled around to various Relays until they decided that they should Relay in their own backyard and Relay For Life of Yorktown was born.Thank you, ladies! Monica became an ACS staff partner and slowly made atransition to working on Relay For Life full time.

She loves how Relay connects a community to the programs, patient servicesand educational messages of the ACS, and how they encourage people to fight back and take action to protect themselves against cancer.

Jane McCarthy

 Jane began Relay 5 years ago as a walker. The night inspired her to get involved so she contacted Monica Garrigan and boy did she get involved! Initially she was asked if it was because of a family member or loved one that made her become involved, but it was just to help. Since then, six close friends,all under the age of 50, from all parts of her life, have been diagnosed with cancer. After treatment, prayers and patience they are all thriving! This year her close friend and 5 year Relay co-captain, (along with their daughters) was diagnosed with cancer. This is sure to keep Jane’s PURPLE POWER in full swing!

Jane says that Relay is a community that stands together to make difference, raise more funds for research, and to believe in more birthdays. She says that “There is No Place Like Yorktown” and that she is blessed to be able to Relay here.

Donna D’Andrea

Donna became involved in Relay For Life 11 years ago. She was asked by a friend if she “wanted to do something crazy and walk around a track through the night to raise money to fight cancer.” Her response was “WHY NOT.”

When Relay came to Yorktown, Donna was already a pro, and it seemed only natural that she become involved. It’s easy for Donna to stay enthusiastic because she has a passion to help the fight to eradicate cancer! She feels blessed to be part of the amazing family that she’s found in the Yorktown Relay For Life. She writes “You only have to look into the face of a cancer Donna D’Andrea Donna became involved in Relay For Life 11 years ago. She was asked by a friend if she “wanted to do something crazy and walk around a track through the night to raise money to fight cancer.” Her response was “WHY NOT.” 

When Relay came to Yorktown, Donna was already a pro, and it seemed only natural that she become involved. It’s easy for Donna to stay enthusiastic because she has a passion to help the fight to eradicate cancer! She feels blessed to be part of the amazing family that she’s found in the Yorktown Relay For Life. She writes “You only have to look into the face of a cancer."