It was a family affair at the 20th Anniversary Dinner of the San Miguel Program as Father Mark Connell, school founder and Impact Award recipient, was celebrated at the Westchester Country Club on Nov. 1.
The educational services program for low-opportunity youth, supported solely by private donations, was surprised and honored when “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” was donated for the event’s live auction by New York pop-expressionist Lynn Mara in honor of the 20th anniversary.
Led by Philip Orlando who served as auctioneer, the competition was fast and furious as the artist’s sister-in-law, Sheila Mara, outbid the crowd with a whopping $14k.
Sheila Mara then presented the painting as a gift for San Miguel Academy in Newburgh, NY, the middle school for the San Miguel Program.
San Miguel Rowing competes on a national level and every student at the Academy participates in the rowing activities.
Philip Orlando (Chappaqua); Sheila Mara (Stamford) and Lynn Mara (Greenwich) Photo Credit: Simon Feldman. Contributed photo
“The painting was inspired by the students whose achievements “defy the odds” every day,” says Lynn Mara. “They literally and figuratively work against the current, leading to successes that should inspire everyone.”
Over $900,000 was raised with 425 guests in attendance at the annual dinner.
Mara’s work has been exhibited far and wide including: the Legacy Club at MetLife Stadium, Rutherford, NJ; seen on FOX News to benefit Tunnel to Towers Foundation; The Rye Art Center, Rye, NY; Silvermine Art Gallery, New Canaan, CT; Jan Dilenschneider Gallery at the Sheen Center, New York, NY; YMF Gallery , Southampton, NY; and beyond. She was the 2017 winner of the Hampton Classic Poster Design and the Hampton Jitneys 40th Anniversary Design a Bus Contest. Her colorful work brings life to restaurants like Rafele and Gordito, both in Rye, NY, Bianca of Greenwich, CT and Three Village Inn in Stonybrook, NY.
Lynn Mara’s work can be found on lynnmara.com
She can also be followed on Instagram @ lynn.mara.art