gardner's Gala 2017
We held our 2nd Annual Gala in November 2017!
The event was yet another example of the fantastic, continued support from our donors! We were honored and humbled by the turnout.
Not only were we able to raise additional funds towards our stated mission, but we also were able to provide additional insight on all of the families and patients that we have been able to support with the funds raised at our first Gala. David Marks told a few specific stories from financial aid recipients, and Kevin Cook, Principal Gifts Officer at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, spoke about the impact our Foundation has had.
We are excited to allocate the additional funds raised towards supporting families in need!
gardner's Gala 2016
The Gala in April 2016 was a huge success!
With over 500 people in attendance, Gardner's Gala was a wonderful night of cocktails, conversation and dancing.
The silent auction was fantastic, featuring incredible items from over 30 donors. A week in Martha's Vineyard or St. Maarten, a ski weekend in Vermont, NFL and MLB tickets, and an original Annie Leibovitz Photograph of Bruce Springsteen, are just a few that brought smiles to our guests.
The event was extremely successful not only from a fundraising perspective, but also in terms of building awareness of our mission. With the extremely generous donations from the attendees, as well as over 100 other donors who were unable to attend the event, we have finalized out relationship with Maria Fareri Children's Hospital and have begun making donations to families in need.
The lantern Launch
This year was the 5th Annual Lantern Launch celebrating Gardner's 27th Birthday.
125 friends and family gathered on a wide open field and launched 26 lanterns into the night sky. The temperature was perfect and the wind was just right.
It is always bittersweet to celebrate Gardner's birthday but we are grateful to be surrounded by those who he loved and who he had such a tremendous impact on.
A Birthday is forever....
It is always a magical night! A night to reflect on a wonderful young man......what was, and, what could have been.
#TeamGforever
Horace Greeley All Athletes walkathon
For the 3rd Year, The Greeley High School Athletes walked in memory of Gardner Marks, Class of 2008. This November the community gathered to walk together for the culminating event of a month long fundraising campaign, "One Team, One Dream".
Student athletes raised awareness and funds to support two charities, The Gardner Marks Foundation and the Making Headway Foundation. Both non-profit organizations provide assistance to families impacted by cancer and brain tumors.
The Horace Greeley Athlete Walkathon turned 2016 into something special. This grassroots effort raised more money than ever before raising $25,000. The power of young people to impact society has never been greater.
We are happy that families in crisis will benefit from the student athletes passion and hard work.
With the athletes fundraising efforts our foundation is able to help a family in our own backyard who is going through financial struggles.....The Martinez Family and their daughter, Sara, have been battling cancer for the past year. Sara is recovering from a bone marrow transplant and the complications that go with it. Her dad, Mario, is a hardworking, thoughtful man who works in the Chappaqua School District as Head Custodian of one of our elementary schools. He and his family are relieved and grateful to have some of their monthly financial shortfall covered by our Foundation.
Thank you Horace Greeley Athletes for a job well done on behalf of The Gardner Marks Foundation!