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03-08-09
Boys & Girls Club of Mt. Vernon celebrates 96th anniversary; J.B. Smoove livens event as MC
     The Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon celebrated its incredible 96th anniversary Saturday night, March 7, at the popular and luxurious Fountainhead catering facility in New Rochelle. Nearly 400 guests attended the yearly event in support of the The Boys & Girls Club program, although there is much uncertainty in the air about the current economic meltdown impacting the entire world.
     The Fountainhead has been used by the Boys & Girls Club to hold the annual anniversary celebration and fundraiser for several years now. And this year, guests were awed by the newly renovated facilities, which offered the black tie event guests unparalleled amenities in an inviting and elegant atmosphere.
     As the guests strutted into the Fountainhead, wearing stunning evening attire, they were treated to a lavish cocktail hour. One of the guests jokingly stated: "I thought the cocktail hour was the reception," since there was such a large assortment of great food, an ensemble of musicians playing excellent music, several open bars, along with the incredible festive atmosphere the guests were a part of.
     During the cocktail hour, the guests were able to participate in a silent auction, with dozens of impressive items on display for them to bid on. The live auction was held near the end of the event.
     Highlighting the event this year was J.B. Smoove, award-winning actor, comedian and writer best known for his role as "Leon Black" on Curb Your Enthusiasm, who was the Master of Ceremonies for the event. Smoove, who was raised in Mount Vernon, was scheduled to be the Master of Ceremonies at last year's event, but he was forced to cancel his appearance due to a last minute Hollywood commitment. But he made up for last year's absence by appearing this year and lifting the crowd with his witty humor and magical personality.
     Honored this year at the gala with the Denzel Washington Community Service Award was  Lisa Copeland and Thomas E. DeJulio, two tireless individuals with vibrant and dynamic personalities, who have exemplified total commitment to public service throughout the years.
     Copeland was born and raised in Mount Vernon and attended and graduated from local schools. She continued her education by enrolling at Queens College on a full scholarship, where she earned a Bachelors of Art Degree in Political Science, with a minor in Urban Studies.
     In January 2009, Copeland was unanimously re-appointed Mount Vernon City Clerk for the eleventh consecutive year.
     In August 2005, NY State Commissioner of Education, Richard Mills, re-appointed Copeland to the Local Government Regional Advisory Committee (LGRAC) for Region 9. At NYCOM's 2005 Fall Training School she was elected President of the NY State Association of City and Village Clerks, becoming the first African-American and the youngest person ever elected to that position, and was re-elected in 2006 for a second time.  Also in 2005, Copeland was recertified with the professional designation of Certified Municipal Clerk from the International Institute of Municipal Clerks - a NY State designation. In addition, she has been involved in numerous civic and community associations. She is a past President of the Board of Directors of the Quincy Cooperative; the Mount Vernon YMCA; Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce; the Boys and Girls Club of Mount Vernon and the YMCA of Central and Northern Westchester. She is also a life member of the Mount Vernon Chapter of NAACP.
     After nearly 18 years with the City of Mount Vernon, in February of 2009, Copeland was hired as Deputy Journal Clerk for the NY State Senate. She is the first African-American to obtain this position in the history of the State Senate.
     Thomas E. DeJulio, a member of the Kiwanis Club at Fordham, University, has held service leadership positions within the Kiwanis family for more than forty years.
     He began his community service in 1966 as Mount Vernon High School Key Club President; Charter President and Co-Founder of the Circle K Club at Fordham University; Mount Vernon Kiwanis Club President in 1979; Bronx-Westchester South Division Lt. Governor in 1981; NY District Circle K Administrator between 1984 and 1989 and 1996-97 NY District Kiwanis Governor.
     DeJulio has also completed more than 10 years of service on the Kiwanis International Level, chairing various committees and serving with distinction as a member of the first Kiwanis International Committee on Diversity. As a member of the Executive, Finance, and Leadership Committees of the Board of Trustees, he was instrumental in bringing a new direction and vision of Kiwanis as one of the finest organizations of global volunteers in 80 countries involved in service activities that promote character and leadership development.
     Presenting the Denzel Washington Community Service Award to DeJulio was Don Ciota, a longtime member of the Mount Vernon Kiwanis. Honoring Copeland with the same award was Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson.
     Another highlight of the long gala, which started at 6:30 PM and ended at 1:00 AM, was the phenomenal musical entertainment provided by the Revelators, an African dance group from the Mount Vernon south side Boys and Girls Club.
     The nearly 400 guests in attendance consisted of an endless list of dignitaries, many from Pelham, the county and state level.
     Due to the current economic climate, items up for bid during the live auction did not sell. One guest told the Inquirer: "It was a big sacrifice for many of us to be here tonight, and we could not afford to extend ourselves financially during the live auction."
     Plans are already in place for next year's gala, and the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Club are hoping that there is a positive change in the economy by the time next year's event rolls along.

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