Kardon

A December to Remember at Kardon

By: Christine Lulewicz

The month of December, for most people, is a busy time of year as we are preparing for Christmas, Hanukkah, and other holidays.  Here at Kardon, we are busy preparing as well. Every year in the month of December, we plan and hold an Annual Celebration Fundraiser event at the Westin Hotel. As a member of the Kardon community and the Chorale, I am proud to say that I attended this event last Sunday.

The evening began when I entered the Westin Hotel. On the way to the ballroom where the event took place, I gazed at the Christmas decorations and cozy lounging areas. They gave me a nice, warm feeling as if I was relaxing at home, in front of a warm fireplace. When I got to the ballroom, I was greeted by friendly, familiar faces of my fellow member of the Kardon community. This, also, gave me a nice warm, welcoming feeling like I had come home for the holidays after being away for some time.

After that, I decided to browse the Jewelry Table. It was amazing how much variety the selection offered, with some handmade jewelry as well. Selecting some jewelry and paying for it, I had a nice feeling, knowing that I contributed some money to support Kardon and selected nice accessories for myself.

It was then that the Kardon band,” The Timeless Five” started to provide musical entertainment in the hallway. Along with many others, I stood and listened to them. They performed a nice variety of songs, including their take on Christmas songs such as “Jingle Bell Rock“. When they finished, the applause was long and loud, appreciating their hard work.

After the Executive Director gave a welcome speech, it was time for the Kardon Chorale to perform. We Chorale members were excited to sing for the whole community at this event. We stood on the stage and under the direction of our new Chorale director, put on a memorable performance for everyone and in memory of one of our beloved  deceased Chorale members. I think our hard work paid off well.

After dinner was served, the evening concluded with the presentation of the Emmanuel S. Kardon Award to Dr. Daniel Gottlieb. Upon accepting the award, he gave a speech. I listened closely to everything Dr. Gottlieb was saying. His message came through to me as,” We are all Human Beings, no matter what. We can find our voices of hope within ourselves, even when all seems lost in our lives.” To me, he has been an inspiration and influential to all of us.

Leaving the hotel, I felt as if the evening had lots of meaning to me. I have seen how this event is a time honored tradition here at Kardon. Not only do the members of the community gather together, but in many ways, we honor the things (the chorale, the band, our benefactors, etc.)  that make Kardon a special place to be. It was a pleasure for me to attend this event and look forward to it next year and for years to come.