Annual Birthday Fundraiser brings $75,000 for KHS Learning for Life
Birthday Fundraiser for Killingly High School Programs Raises $75,000
A Two-Night Affair Supported by the Cigar Industry
New York, NY (May 30, 2012) – Held in New York City on May 7 and May 8, 2012, the Eighth Annual Michael Herklots Birthday Fundraiser for Killingly High School’s Learning for Life Fund raised $75,000. The two-night affair took place at The Carnegie Club and The Grand Havana Room and was supported by the leading manufacturers of premium cigars and accessories. Killingly High School Class of 1998 Alumnus and Nat Sherman Executive Director of Retail and Brand Development, Herklots raised more than a quarter million dollars for the fund over the course of eight years.
The annual events, which include live and silent auctions, raffles, a dinner and premium cigars, have not only welcomed tastemakers the likes of Chefs Emeril Lagasse and Wayne Nish, Actors Tony Darrow, Arthur Nascarella and Frank Vincent, but also drawn overwhelming support from the cigar industry. This year’s 200 guests included Ariel Ditkowich of La Sirena Cigars, Bill Paley of La Palina, Guillermo Leon of La Aurora, Gustavo Plasencia of Plasencia Cigars, Litto Gomez of La Flor Dominicana, Luis Falto of La Garita Cigar Company, Mike Bellody of El Tiante Cigar Group, Nestor Miranda of Miami Cigar, Raquel, Patricia and Hostos Quesada of MATASA, Phillip Wynn of Felipe Gregorio, and many more.
“It’s impossible to truly express my gratitude to the numerous individuals who have invested in the successful futures of Killingly’s youth over the years”, said Herklots. “In a time during which every family in the country has been affected by economic distress, people still recognize the importance of a high quality high school education. It is our responsibility to provide today’s youth with the tools that will make them tomorrow’s leaders. ”
Donors to the Learning for Life Fund receive regular newsletters providing updates on the fantastic achievements of the School-to-Career program, as well as a financial breakdown on how money is being used.
School-to-Career Coordinator at Killingly High School Robert Brennan, said, “We are truly grateful for Michael Herklots and his constituents’ benevolence to the School-to-Career Program over the past five years. It has, without a doubt, sustained our exemplary career pathways.”
Special thanks to the following companies for donating product to support the incredibly successful raffle and auction efforts: 7-20-4 Cigars, Alec Bradley, Altadis USA, American Sommelier Association, Armand Ventura, Arturo Fuente, Ashton Cigars, Barry Entner, Carnegie Club, Casa Fernandez, Charitybuzz.com, Cigar Aficionado, CigarEvents.com, Colibri, Crowned Heads, Daniel Marshall, Davidoff Distribution Group, Davidoff of Geneva, NY, De La Concha, Drew Estate, El Tiante Cigar Group, Emeril’s New Orleans, Escada, Felipe Gregorio, Grand Havana Room, Graycliff Cigars, Greg Norman, Groupe SEB, Gurkha, Havana Cellars, Illusione, J.C. Newman, Jesus Fuego, Johnson & Wales University, La Aurora, La Garita, Lester Friedman, Lotus, Manny Bello, MATASA, Miami Cigar, My Father Cigars, Nat Sherman, Nestor Miranda, Padron Cigars, Pilot Pen, Regius Cigars, Rob Singer, Rothmann’s, S.T. Dupont, Sartoria Ambrosiana, Schrader Cellars, SENSAI by Kanebo International, Spiff NYC, The Sands, Bethlehem, PA, Tobacco Plaza, Turnberry Isle, Miami and more…