In her Park Avenue apartment, Jackie Weld Drake was handing Christmas gifts from under her tree to children beautifully dressed. In her dining room, there was turkey, ham and roast beef cooked to perfection. It was straight out of a Hallmark movie. But these were not Park Avenue kids. They were Jackie’s “Casita Kids.” Testaments to Casita Maria Center for Arts and Education, a safe haven for kids in the South Bronx for mentoring, learning and creative expression. This night is one more alternative example of who they can be.
And so, Casita kids and faculty mixed with Jackie’s friends. Among them: Susan Guttfreund, Lady Liliana Cavendish, Eleanora Kennedy, William Ivey Long, Hunt Slonem, Steven Aronson, Marc Rosen, Halim Bulos, Sharon King Hoge, Mercedes Levin, Alicia Lubowski-Jahn, Justin Stewart, Mamie Kanfer Stewart, Sabrina Wirth, Maria Wirth, and board members Martha Bograd, Gautam Patel, and Ben Rodriguez-Cubenas.
We’re not certain who looks forward to it the most, Jackie — their Board Chair, who has devoted her adult life to Casita — or the children — who practice harmonizing for months. They’ve gotten so good, they’ll be featured on “Good Day New York” with Rosanna Scotto, this Friday, (8 AM Dec. 19). “Everybody simply falls in love with these kids,” Jackie told me. “They are so talented.”
“I want them always to be happy, so I ask the Mary Arnold toy store to pick out what kids want, so they can get the little gadgets and things they like. I hope and think it makes them really happy. It certainly makes me happy to watch.
“We also get to celebrate the staff who work so hard all year on the afterschool programs.”
“The kids are always fabulously excited for this party,” Casita’s Executive Director, Felix A. Urrutia Jr. told me. “It’s such a highlight. They sing, get gifts, and a wonderful dinner.” Even more valuable: “the attention that they often don’t otherwise get. Every young person needs positive adults in their lives. That’s what we are for Casita kids — a team of creative and sensitive people who engage them in activities, care for them, pay attention to them, value them and encourage them.”
A team with top notch credentials. “We attract amazing talent,” Gail Heidel, Casita’s Artistic Director added. “Kayla Faccilongo, a mezzo-soprano directs the performance choir. Seven time Grammy Award winner Arturo O’Farrill leads their improvisational jazz ensemble, BronX BandA. There are Yale and Brown alumni working at Casita.”
“When the kids perform, their families come see them. It gives them a sense of pride. Our choir has been able to accomplish so much in a short time. They started in October and they’re doing an amazing job tonight. Kayla, who has been training them, is a mezzo soprano (born and raised in the Bronx, of Puerto Rican descent) who went to Laguardia High School and Queens College. We hope she will serve as an inspiration.”
Besides providing good role models, Casita teaches the emotional skills it takes to succeed. “When you come to Casita Maria, there’s a presumed contract,” Felix explained. “We see value in you. We support you. We serve you. And we teach you how to come into our space.
“A lot of what we do is build social intelligence and emotional self management. We have adults that can’t do that, let alone kids that are grappling with the issues they face at Hunts Point. We teach them how to manage that through the arts and various activities. They get to learn self discipline — and build grit. If you start something, you have to finish it. You can’t quit. You start. You finish. You execute. You feel better. You struggle? That’s OK. We’ll be there with you. And you will survive.”
To look at Ann Van Ness, greeting us in her elegant Upper East Side townhouse, you wouldn’t think she’d ever had a minute’s woe. But, she, too, has “grit.” She’s survived great loss, built businesses, homes, even a new family. And she’s always there for friends and charities. To celebrate the last two, she threw open her doors for a Christmas party that featured seasonal and seasoned talent.
“I’ve always loved throwing parties,” Ann told me. “Usually, I entertain for various charities. But, the Christmas party is a way to keep in touch with my personal friends and bring them together to celebrate this joyous season. It’s also a way to thank them for their generosity in supporting my philanthropies.”
Ann brought in opera singer Lauren Jelencovich, who segued from arias to carols and got the room singing along on their feet.
And Santa, to pose with all. Not just any Santa, Mickey Heller, the man behind the white beard has two degrees — undergraduate and graduate he calls them — from Santa school. He’s also a professional judge — eminently qualified to decide who’s been naughty or nice.
Photographer Annie Watt brought him into the mix. They met when he was a teen-age male model for the Barbizon agency — “thin with a lot more hair” — and she was the agency director.
He went on to performing in regional and dinner theaters. Then, returned to New York to go to law school. “I just changed stages,” he quipped. Now, semi retired, he’s back on the boards, so to speak, as Santa.
What do they teach in Santa school? “It’s a long weekend course that I’ve taken twice,” he told me. “One was for the bachelors and one for the masters.” After that, it’s off to the North Pole, presumably, to elves, sleds, reindeers — and hot toddy with Mrs. Claus.
Santa Con? Don’t go there! Santa Stripper?! “People pay me to keep my clothes ON!”
Twelve years ago, at a local children’s charity in Brooklyn, their Santa was MIA. “The director handed me the suit and said, ‘You’re the new Santa.’” A star was born. “I love doing things for children and interacting with people,” Heller told me. “I started doing hospitals and charities pro bono.” Nine years into it, he realized being Santa could be an actual paying job. He went to Santa school and got an agency. “But, the charity work with kids is my real joy. These types of parties are the icing on the cake, or should I say, the icicles on the Christmas tree.”
No matter. Wherever he ho ho’s, “I ALWAYS make my list and check it twice.”
Lauren Jelencovich has been performing ever since she was discovered on “Star Search” — touring with Yanni for years, and recently performing with Dolly Parton. A new member of The Recording Academy, she has been starring in solo shows across the country.
And been performing at Ann’s soirees for a long time.
“Friends joke that I’m a walking party,” Ann laughed. “But, Arlene Francis once said, ‘Life is the best party I’ve ever been invited to.’
“And ‘Happiness can be found, joy can be spread, and above all, kindness can be practiced.’”
I couldn’t find an attribution for that quote. But, they are words Ann Van Ness lives by.
Words worth remembering, now more than ever.
