John W. Engeman Theater Presents $45,000 Check to Huntington Lighthouse Preservation Society

On Friday, June 10, co-owners of the John W. Engeman Theater, Richard T. Dolce and Kevin J. O'Neill, presented a check for $45,000 to President Pamela Setchell and Board member Valerie Whyte of the Huntington Lighthouse Preservation Society (HLPS).

The check presentation was the result of a fundraising event on Wednesday, June 1, benefitting the Huntington Lighthouse Preservation Society and their ongoing efforts to restore the Huntington Harbor Lighthouse. The evening featured a Broadway revue style concert and a silent auction, with 100% of ticket sales proceeds going to the HLPS. In total, the evening's activities raised approximately $60,000 toward the current fundraising goal of $80,000.

In attendance that evening were the theater's accountant Bob Frank, of Bender & Ciccotto, and his friend Larry Moskowitz, who manages sales for renowned artist Peter Max. Impressed by the event and its cause, Moskowitz suggested that Peter Max do a painting of the lighthouse and donate the work to HLPS in order to fill the remaining funding gap, and Peter Max generously agreed.

This one-of-a-kind painting was unveiled in conjunction with the check presentation on June 10 and will be displayed at the Engeman Theater throughout the summer. O'Neill plans to host an auction of the painting at the end of the summer, which will kick off the annual Huntington Lighthouse Music Fest, to be held over Labor Day weekend.

In its 10 years of operation, the Engeman has raised funds for a wide variety of causes, including the American Red Cross and the Hurricane Sandy Relief effort, the First Presbyterian Church of Northport and the Ecumenical Lay Council Food Pantry of Northport. With the funds raised for HLPS, the Engeman's lifetime charitable giving has now surpassed $1 million.

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