GEC Eggs-travaganza was an eggs-cellent hit!

Easter bonnets were on display at the Spring “Eggs”-Travaganza, a fundraising luncheon and gift auction held by the Guild for Exceptional Children (GEC) on Sunday, March 13.

The event took place at Gargiulo’s Restaurant, 2911 West 15th Street, and drew a crowd of 475 people who had been urged to don the holiday headgear, with Easter right around the corner.

A good time was had by hold said GEC Executive Director Paul Cassone, who noted that, compared to other GEC fundraisers, “This one is a little different in that it is driven specifically by Guild members. Parents who have children in day programs reach out to their family and friends. We have found it to be very successful.”

The GEC, is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1958 by a small yet dedicated group of parents advocating for their developmentally disabled children, which eventually opened the first group home in New York City in 1970. The GEC has grown into an organization which serves up to 1,000 daily while providing integral services for children and adults facing disabilities.

The event — “an effort by parents and members of the Guild to raise awareness of the work we do and help raise money to supplement out programs,” according to Cassone — was co-chaired by Margaret DeVincenzo, Mary Dory and Celeste Sena. At the event, those in attendance were able to buy raffles for hundreds of donated prizes, with the funds raised going to supplement Guild programs, Cassone said.

For more information on the Guild and its programs, visit gecbklyn.org.

Additional reporting done by Helen Klein.