I was fortunate to be a guest at last night’s fund raiser for BMCC (Borough
of Manhattan Community College) held at 4 World Trade Center. (http://www.wtc.com/about/office-tower-4) Last night was more than a fund raiser – at least
for me- it was an emotional journey from college to 9/11 and back to the
present.
Our
elevator zoomed to the 54th floor.
My emotional journey started with the panoramic view which was
breath-taking. It literally embraces you
and sweeps you across the water. This massive, open space (later to be divvied into offices) is unfinished. The floors are cement; the walls are bare. It seemed we filled the entire floor, which over-flowed
with beautiful well-dressed people. I
loved seeing the diversity and hearing all the accents. It was truly a lovely representation that which is New York.
Robert De Niro, the evening’s guest
of honor, walked past me to his seat.
Wow! It was like the parting of the Red Sea. You could hear as well as see the effect his
presence had on the room. There was a
beautifully edited video of his film clips and I remembered my own awe at
seeing “Raging Bull” for the first time.
I was in college studying acting and I had never seen anything like the
performance on that screen. That began
my life long admiration for this actor.
Mr.
De Niro was being honored, not for his acting, but his post 9-11 work to
revitalize this area of the city. Ever hear of the Tribeca Film
Festival? His acceptance speech was
gracious and really quite humorous. He
referred to BMCC as a wonderful neighbor and seemed quite humble and appreciative
for the honor and partnership.
Later in the evening, four exemplary
students were chosen to read personal essays about their experiences at
BMCC. While Robert De Niro made an
excellent honoree, the food and wine were delicious, the view was spectacular…
I believe it was the students who made the most impressive contribution to the
evening. Immediately following their highly spirited stories, a call to action was made. In one of the many ways mobile devices can be
used for the good, we were supplied a phone number to which we could text messages
and pledges. These were displayed on video
screens around the room. The response was overwhelming and the majority of
these messages were directed towards the students and faculty- thanking them
for jobs well done and supporting future efforts.
A great movie is not just one scene, but one
scene can leave the greatest impression.
For me, that moment in “Raging Bull” was De Niro’s transformation to the
overweight club owner who destroys his own middleweight championship belt. The success of last night was an accumulation of
all the sights, tastes, and sounds, but in my humble opinion it was the students
who provided the turning point- the perfect motivation for opening one’s heart and check
book. I know it was for me.
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