Athletes for Charity Inc.

The event—which was emceed by WNBC-TV reporter Reg Chapman—provided an elegant evening featuring a cocktail reception followed by dinner, award presentations and an auction offering wonderful items. The Gala also featured amazing performances from the Harlem School for the Arts, D.J. Will, The Hip Hop Church Choir, Brooklyn “Steppers” Marching Band and honoree Leslie Uggams.

Hale House presented the Mother Hale Award for Caring to Leslie Uggams—who also sang a rousing medley of Gershwin songs, starting with “I Got Rhythm”—and longtime Hale House supporters Michele and Peter Drasher. The Spirit of Mother Hale Award was presented to The Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts III of Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem.

The Gala raised over $340,000, which will benefit the initiatives and programs of Hale House. In addition, the dinner raised nearly $60,000 for the Mother Hale Learning Center Scholarship Fund. The newly created scholarship will help enable children from the community to attend the Center, which officially opened this past April.

“Athletes for Charity, Inc. is pleased to support the efforts of Hale House for its 37th Anniversary Mother Hale Awards for Caring Gala,” said Cathleen Laporte, President of Athletes for Charity, Inc., a non-profit that supports the philanthropic and volunteer efforts of athletes. “We were blessed to have a few friends, members of the New York Giants, join us for this year’s Gala as well. Their presence confirmed the athletes commitment to serving the community, especially underprivileged children.” Guests of Athletes for Charity, Inc., Carlos Emmons, Bob Whitfield, Antonio Pierce, Brandon Short, Mike Jennings, Willie Ponder and Curtis Deloatch of the New York Giants, proved to be very generous as they collectively donated over $8,500 towards the Mother Hale Learning Center Scholarship Fund while also helping to raise $3500 during the live auction activities.

Hale House Center, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to building better futures for children and families in need through 24-hour infant and toddler residential care, developmental childcare programs, supportive housing, family stabilization efforts and community outreach. Founded in 1969 and incorporated in 1972, Hale House’s flagship program, the Mother Hale Children’s Residence, grew out of the commitment of Clara McBride Hale, affectionately called Mother Hale, to nurture disadvantaged children. When Hale House began, it was the first institution of its kind in the nation to house and care for infants born to mothers who were addicted to drugs. Over the years, hundreds of children have found sanctuary in Mother Hale’s brownstone, located in the heart of Harlem.

For more information about Hale House visit www.halehouse.org.