at Horace Mann ScHooL

alumni council corner
assistance to HM’s Upper Division students for
such things as supplies and activity fees outside
of tuition, and enables them to participate
in extracurricular activities including athletics
and trips they might not otherwise be able to
afford. This year’s Benefit raised more than
$37,000 for the Fund.
Justin Lerer ’95 served as master of
ceremonies at the event—in his role as one
of the Benefit’s Co-Chairs and the Council’s
newly-elected president. Thanking all who
participated, Lerer credited his predecessor,
outgoing Alumni Council president Alli
Baron ’89, with conceiving of the benefit six
years ago as a way for alumni to reach out to
Horace Mann and its students. “Since then
the benefit has grown every year, bringing in
much-needed funds for students,” said Lerer,
adding that when Baron developed the event
into the current “Casino Night” the Benefit
became a highlight among the many activities
the Alumni Council organizes for alums.
For Alli Baron the huge success of the
evening was enhanced by the support so many
alumni showed in serving as sponsors and
in donating dozens of exciting prizes for the
raffle and silent auction that concluded the
celebration. “Thank you all so much for your
generosity. It means so much to the School,”
she told the crowd.
The stylish event and theater site, donated
for the evening by Helen Mills, HM parent of
alumnae Katherine Mills-Tannenbaum ’03 and
Isabelle Mills-Tannenbaum ’05, was a perfect
place for friends and classmates to reconnect.
Greeting one another they caught up on news
over cocktails and a delicious selection of hors
d’oeuvres. Desserts in the form of melt-in-yourmouth
brownies and lemon squares were the
gift of noted New York baker Seth Greenberg
’75 of Seth Greenberg’s Just Desserts.
Within minutes long-lost friends became
reacquainted, and classmates who had come
to the party together moved through the strikingly
red and black decorated room, toward
gaming tables set up for poker, blackjack,
roulette, Texas Hold ’Em and more as the
lively rhythms of 360° Entertainment played.
The sounds were supplied courtesy of the
music-and-entertainment company founder
David Acevedo ’99.
While the alumni enjoyed the excitement of
the fast-paced party many also said they were
delighted to participate in an activity that helps
Horace Mann School. “Through the funds we
raised, current and future students at HM in
need of assistance are able to make the most
of their Horace Mann School experience,”
said Baron. Nia Shepherd ’99 reported that
the event was the first she had attended since
graduating from Horace Mann. Noting that
over the years she has been out of the country,
finishing school, and establishing herself in
her career, she said she felt it was “time to get
back involved. It’s great to see so many people
from Horace Mann.”
Throughout the evening alumni enjoying
the gaming tables traded their winning chips in
for raffle tickets for a variety of prizes, and also
placed their bids for prizes in a silent auction.
A dedicated group of alumni volunteers
worked to make the party the success it
was—soliciting prizes and gathering sponsorships
from numerous alumni and friends. They
include co-chairs Samantha Kleier Forbes ’90,
Lerer, Sabrina Kleier Morgenstern ’94, Daniel
Turkewitz ’91 and prize-chair Cortnee Glasser
’92, as well as the rest of the members of the
Benefit Committee. Gratefully acknowledged
for their participation and generosity as well
were the following event sponsors: Dina and
Eric Felder ’89, Alli Baron ’89 and Suzanne
Sloan ’77, The Kleier Family—Michele, Ian,
Samantha ’90, Sabrina ’94 and Jonathan ’01,
Justin Lerer ’95 and Rachel Hannaford, Daniel
Turkewitz ’91, David and Naomi Meckler
Molner ’90, Vicki Wiener, Anthony Brown ’76,
Michael A. Capasso ’90, Danielle and Hayim
Grant ’87, Randy Fields ’94, Diana and Paul
Frank ’87, Carolina and Jared Friedberg ’90,
Gotham Dream Cars, Chris Greene ’92, Noah
Leichtling ’92, Anil Ranawat ’92 and Dan
Rosenberg ’92, IDT Charitable Foundation,
Rachel and Rob Phillips ’90, Samantha and
Kirk Roberts ’91, Edward and Wendy Sassower
’90, Scott Shnay ’97, Andy Schoenthal ’91,
Elizabeth & Robert Sloan ’81, Julie Luchs and
Stephen Smigel ’89 and Joelle Tisch ’95.
As the evening came to an end, one alum
after another walked out into the beautiful
New York night saying they would be back to
the Benefit—come next spring. $
Noah Leichtling ’92 and Dr. Anil Ranawat ’92 were among the alumni enjoying the
games at the HMAC Casino Night Benefit.
HM Alumni Council members Louise Elton ’80, Sabrina Kleier Morgenstern ’94,
Justin Lerer ’95, Samantha Kleier Forbes ’90, and Suzanne Sloan ’77 with
Dr. Tom Kelly.
48 Horace Mann Magazine Fall 2008