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Arts & Entertainment

8th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration

Peekskill, NY - The Preservation Company, Inc. is hosting its 8th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Dinner and Auction at 4 PM on January 15, 2012 at Colonial Terrace in Cortlandt Manor.  Because the event is also celebrating this non-profit housing assistance company’s 25th anniversary, it needed to be very special.  So, Chapman Roberts, all-star singer, actor, composer, choral conductor and arranger, has signed on to host the event.  Chapman’s credits include debuting in the original Broadway cast of Hair and also appearing in Salvation, Hello Dolly, Jesus
Christ Superstar;
and in The Fantasticks. He has recorded with Gregory Hines, Horace Silver, Weather Report, and B.B. King.  In addition, Peekskill’s artist community will
share their vision of Dr. King’s Dream at the event.  Wilfredo Morel, a sculptor (www.steelimaginations.com),
and one of Peekskill’s most gifted artists spearheaded the art project and was overcome with emotion at the generosity of his fellow artists.  So many of them were excited to participate in this first of its kind event, and are performing or donating pieces of their art for auction.  Some of the pieces will be drawn from the artists existing collection, but many are being created specifically for and will be unveiled at the event.  These are the wonderful artists who will be helping to make this an extraordinary event:

A film documenting the 25 years of extraordinary work by The Preservation Company is being produced by three Westchester Community College students currently
studying at the WCC Peekskill Visual Arts Campus.  The students, all Peekskill residents, will debut their film at the event. 

Attendance at this year’s celebration is not only a wonderful way to honor Dr. King and help support The Preservation Company’s many wonderful programs, but it is a unique opportunity for art lovers, collectors and aficionados to get a look the amazing art available in Peekskill and its surrounding communities.  Many lucky attendees will also have the opportunity to dine at a table with one of the artists and get to hear first-hand what inspired the piece they created for the event.

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The Preservation Company’s mission is to increase access to and improve the supply of housing for low and
moderate-income households and to contribute to community development and revitalization.  In addition to honoring Dr. King, several other companies who help the Preservation Company achieve their mission, and people who practice the spirit of Dr. King’s dream will be
honored at the dinner.  They are: Capurro Contracting, the Housing Action Council and Hudson River Health Care and,
Valerie Swan, Director of the Peekskill Youth Bureau.

For further information and to purchase tickets ($65.00) contact Tuesday McDonald at 914-734-8906.

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