Celebrating Cinco de Mayo for SIBSPlace

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SIBSPlace held its annual auction fundraiser with 270 people at the Seawane Club in Hewlett Harbor on May 5. The theme in conjunction with the date was Cinco de Mayo, a Mexican holiday celebrated annually on May 5. Cinco de Mayo is Spanish for “Fifth of May” and commemorates the unlikely victory of the Mexican Army over superior French forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.

In its 19th year, SIBSplace is a free program of South Nassau Communities Hospital in Oceanside founded by Hewlett Harbor resident Michael Schamroth that offers therapeutic peer support for children 5-17 who have a sibling or a parent suffering from cancer or another devastating illness.

Honoree Dr. Frank Coletta said he is impressed with the SIBSPlace program as it exemplifies the crux of humanity — people helping other people. Jeff Rosenthal from Home Appliances was awarded the inaugural Helene Wrenn Memorial Award. There was both a live and silent auction, and a mariachi band performed. Auction Chairwoman Deborah Polokoff and the hospital’s Development team coordinated the event.

—Jeffrey Bessen