Friends of Luke Moretti Donate $200K To Support Spinal Cord Research

Over 600 friends and supporters of Scarsdale’s Luke Moretti raised almost $200,000 to support the Luke Moretti Fund to benefit the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation for Spinal Cord Research. The gala event was held on October 24 at LIFE in Ardsley and a wide swath of the community turned out to drink, dine, see Beatlemania and stand behind the Moretti family after their son Luke suffered a spinal cord injury during his freshman year at Vanderbilt.

The well-choreographed event included a silent auction lead by sportscaster Bruce Beck, promotion from Jimmy Fink of 107.1 the Peak, a proclamation from Westchester County Deputy Director Kevin Plunkett, remarks from Luke’s brother Marcus Moretti and thanks form Dr. Debra Morosini, who is Dana Reeve’s sister and represented the foundation.

In addition to donations from the 600 attendees, there were checks from more than 300 non-attendees and the silent auction raised $35,000.

Scarsdale’s Rich and Stacey Baumer produced this ambitious event with help from event committee members, Elyse Abraham, Deedee Cohen, Elyse Flagg, Brendan Marx, Anne Moretti, Jennifer Stone, Lindsay Sturman, and Amy Tuller.

Rich Baumer was thrilled with the results. Commenting on the event, he said, “The event, attendance, and generosity exceeded all our expectations. We had an unbelievable organizing committee, sponsors, people providing goods and services (Godiva, Jimmy Fink, Bruce Beck, Sandy Alexander Printing, etc.), and attendees. The venue itself was ideal, and everybody was there because of the faith, love, courage, and inspiration of Luke and the entire Moretti family. I think it showed the true essence of community and how this town comes together for each other. The Moretti family was awed by the outpouring of love and emotion in the room, and would like to once again, thank everyone who helped organize, attend, donate, work, prepare, donate, etc. Donations can still be made at www.LukeMorettiFund.Eventbrite.com or by mailing a check, made out to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, to Rich Baumer, at 33 Park Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583.”

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Photos by Alison Fial Greene