Gold Coast Arts Center to host St. Mary’s benefit concert

Janelle Clausen

For Kimberly Pogorelis and her fiancé, Jonathan Palmiotti, the St. Mary’s Hospital for Children benefit concert this month at the Gold Coast Arts Center is not the first they’ve done.

They previously managed one or two for St. Jude’s Hospital, separately from the arts center, gathering a group of friends to host it. Ultimately, they received a letter telling them that their contribution saved three children there.

“It’s really heartwarming. I almost get chills every time,” Pogorelis, associate director for the arts school, said.

Now the two of them are producing and directing a concert at the Gold Coast Arts Center in Great Neck to benefit St. Mary’s Hospital’s arts for healing program, which allows patients, family and staff to create art and develop a sense of community while recovering at St. Mary’s in Bayside, Queens.

Pogorelis said that there are a few key differences from the past. By holding the concert at the arts center, she said they have greater number of resources and space. Roughly 100 people can fit into the theater.

The show will feature a core group of volunteers that have performed in community theater, off-Broadway and elsewhere. Songs will come from Broadway musicals like “Anastasia,” “Mamma Mia,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Hairspray” and more.

While the Gold Coast Arts Center has done benefit concerts before for things such as the Firefighters’ Fund, the Special Olympics and 9/11, this is the first time the center is working with St. Mary’s.

Overall, Gold Coast’s Executive Director Regina Gil said that benefit concerts are not too common, but not exactly uncommon either.

“It has to be a good fit,” Gil said.

Gil also said that while the concert will not necessarily bring the center a monetary benefit, it would create good will and falls in line with one of Gold Coast’s and her own fundamental goals: helping children.

“[I] believe in children reaching their potential… Ultimately we reach adults and we reach teens, but it starts with children,” Gil said.

“We can put our resources at work to assist. Why wouldn’t we?” Gil added. “Why wouldn’t anyone?”

The concert will take place on Saturday, July 22, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, July 23, at 1 p.m. at the Gold Coast Arts Center. The suggested contribution for entry is $20.

For more information, contact the Gold Coast Arts Center at (516) 829-2570 or visit its website.

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