NEW YORK-APRIL 1: East Side House Settlement Gala Preview of the 2010 New York International Auto Show on Thursday, April 1, 2010 at The Jacob Javits Center, 11th Avenue at 35th Street, New York City, NY. On April 1, 2010, the East Side House Settlement hosted the 11th Annual Gala Preview of the New York International Auto Show at the The Jacob K. Javits Center. This high-octane event provided guests with an opportunity to view the entire auto show before it officially opened to the public, including access to the hottest cars and trucks, brand new '10 & '11 production models, and exciting concept vehicles. One of the biggest charity events of the year, all proceeds from the evening benefit East Side House Settlement , a leading social services agency that serves young people and families in the Mott Haven section of the South Bronx. The Gala Preview included cocktails, a private dinner for benefactors, and a silent and live auction, plus “Fully Loaded” - a rare collection of NYC’s most exclusive, privately-owned, customized cars and new 2010 automobiles and motorcycles that were unveiled and on display for one night only. The event was chaired by Philip L. Yang and Joan P. Young and the benefit committee was chaired by Kipton Cronkite, Fe Fendi, and Paige Ethington Hardy. The media sponsor was New York magazine. Over 1,500 guests from the worlds of Wall Street, fashion, arts, sports, and Society attended this glittering and fuel-injected evening. THE CARS: The evening’s highlight was a preview of the new Aston Martin Rapide. The most elegant four-door sports car in the world, the Rapide is one of the most eagerly awaited cars of 2010. During the dinner, there was a live auction of an exclusive Aston Martin Rapide driving package. The complete auction package included an excursion for two at the Aston Martin driving school in Detroit, Michigan, for a full-day, one-on-one driving lesson, as well as a one-week loan of the Aston Martin Rapide; a first opportunity to get behind the wheel of the car before sales begin late in the summer 2010. This unique package was offered by Aston Martin North America in conjunction with their official New York dealer partners,Miller Motor Cars and Aston Martin Long Island. The “Fully Loaded” exhibition was curated by Manhattan Motorcars, Wheel Concepts, DUBS and Confederate Motorcyles. It showcased an exhilarating collection of cars and motorcycles with incredible custom and factory upgraded interiors and exteriors, upgrades, revised engines, custom leathers and paints, and custom-built wheels, including: a custom 2010 Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead coupe; 2009 Ferrari 599gtb; 2002 Ford Excursion 7.3 Diesel; 2008 Dodge Ram 3500 6.7 Cummins Diesel; the brand new 2010 Spyker C8 Spyder; 2010 Bentley Supersports; Porsche Carrera GT; Lamborghini Super Veloce; two 2010 Confederate P120 Fighter Limited Edition motorcycles and a 2020 Confederate B120 Wraith motorcycle. THE CAUSE: The Gala Preview of the The New York International Auto Show is a critical source of funding for East Side House Settlement, as approximately half of ESH’s funding comes from private philanthropy. With the unwavering support from The Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association and The New York International Automobile Show, ESH has been able to establish and fund a highly successful college preparation program, which is crucial in promoting education and employment for the residents of Mott Haven in the South Bronx. “We are excited to partner with some of New York’s most influential leaders in the auto industry,” said John Sanchez, Executive Director, East Side House Settlement. “Proceeds raised from the gala will be essential toward benefiting the motivated students that we serve and in continuing our efforts to create opportunities for the people of the South Bronx.” “This is a very exciting year for the Auto Show, as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of The Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association, and our eleven year partnership with East Side House,” said Candida Romanelli, Director, New York International Auto Show. “It is so important that we, as an industry, continue our efforts toward helping young people attain their goals through education and employment.” Over the past four years, 220 students have been accepted to college and over 100 have received scholarship assistance as a result of this event. PHOTO CREDIT:Copyright ©Manhattan Society.com 2010 by Gregory Partanio with Christopher D.M. London | tel: 718.614.7740 | e-mail: GregPartanio@aol.com**********MORE ID'S COMING SHORTLY************