October 2, 1999

A shared effort

More than 200 people gathered at the Gramercy Park Hotel for a benefit supporting Julia Bird and her family during a serious illness. Local businesses contributed alongside friends, relatives and neighborhood organizations.

Arlene Harrison and Jane Crotty helped organize a community committee. The Gramercy Park Block Association took part in a coalition that also included the family, the hotel and groups from the surrounding neighborhoods.

The contemporary report describes residents and organizations crossing their usual boundaries to help a particular family. The original photographs by Todd Maisel show the committee and guests at the completed benefit.

It was one of the Block Association’s early Neighbors Helping Neighbors efforts. A newspaper follow-up ran on October 14.

This account preserves the 1999 benefit and the collaboration behind it.

The later townhouse-tour benefit and GO Project–FPWA connection show other ways neighborhood relationships became practical assistance.

Guests at the October 2, 1999 Julia Bird community benefit at the Gramercy Park Hotel.
Guests at the October 2, 1999 Julia Bird community benefit at the Gramercy Park Hotel.
Sources
  • Program, benefit report and photographs · October 1999