Broadway performers will donate their time and talents Jan. 20 to a musical benefit for a fund named after a Bordentown City woman remembered by family and friends as a dedicated volunteer.
By: Vanessa S. Holt
Broadway performers will donate their time and talents Jan. 20 to a musical benefit for a fund named after a Bordentown City woman remembered by family and friends as a dedicated volunteer.
Gail Csapo, a former Bordentown City resident, died in a car accident at the age of 51, in 1999. She had been an active volunteer at Anchor House in Trenton, an organization that serves runaways from the Delaware Valley region.
Anchor House offers services such as life skill training for teenagers and resources for younger children including food and medicine.
The fund being established in Mrs. Csapo’s name will create an educational endowment to provide additional money for the cultural, athletic and technical development of young people who come to Anchor House seeking refuge from their domestic situations.
"The fund will give a scholarship, or a mini grant, to kids," explained Jeff Sagnip of Florence, an Anchor House volunteer who helps the organization with public relations. "Many youths need job skill or life training, educational or athletic scholarships."
Domestic conflict, the pressures of growing up, physical and mental abuse, and homelessness are among the crises that bring teens to Anchor House. Most of the budget for the facility comes from county, state and federal funding, public donations and annual fund-raising efforts, said Mr. Sagnip.
Mrs. Csapo’s daughter Krista, 30, has been "living and breathing" the upcoming fund-raising event for the past few months.
Inspired by her mother’s dedication to Anchor House and encouraged by her father, Thomas Csapo, who also volunteers at Anchor House, she has worked since early summer to find a place for the event and bring it all together. Ms. Csapo lives in East Windsor.
"This is what I’m passionate about," said Ms. Csapo. "It has taken up every last moment for the past few months."
Ms. Csapo said she believes Gail’s Fund will create opportunities for young people who have not had the same chance other teens may have had to explore their interests and develop their talents.
"If I showed an interest in something, my parents would have asked if I wanted to take a class in that, to develop that interest," said Ms. Csapo. "We’re looking to raise their self-esteem, through helping them to become self-actualized and learn their strengths."
At her mother’s funeral, Krista Csapo met several of the young women whose lives had been touched by her mother.
"She really helped people hands-on," said Ms. Csapo. "We didn’t know to what extent until her funeral."
One young woman came up to her after the funeral and said Mrs. Csapo had helped her to get a scholarship to Notre Dame High School. Another recalled how Mrs. Csapo took the time to give her a ride home from school every day.
A bench was also recently donated in Gail Csapo’s name to Blessed Sacrament Church in Trenton, where Mrs. Csapo had also volunteered many hours of her time.
"My mom touched a lot of people," said Ms. Csapo. "I knew she was a good person. I loved her, but I didn’t realize how many people she touched."
Mrs. Csapo also touched the lives of her daughter’s friends, one of whom will use her creative talents and connections to bring an evening of Broadway music to Notre Dame High School theater for the fund-raiser.
Denise Summerford, a Hamilton native who moved to New York City to pursue a career in acting, brought together two dozen performers for the benefit who were willing to perform at no cost.
"She put together the whole creative aspect of this," said Ms. Csapo. "She’s taking out so much time for this, when she could be auditioning, or doing shows."
Ms. Summerford, a Trenton State College graduate, has appeared in the Broadway revival of "Grease," the national tour of "The Who’s ‘Tommy,’ " the Broadway production of "Saturday Night Fever," and has most recently been in the national tour of the revival "Leader of the Pack."
About two dozen performers are expected to share their talents at the fund-raiser, singing and acting in short skits.
Among the other names on the list of artists currently expected to perform are: Tom Souhrada, Peggy Taphorn, Kevin Loreque, Stefani Rae, Jessica Walling, Jennie Eisenhower, Colin Stokes, Heather Ayers, Victoria Adams, Bill Whitefield, Katherine Harber, Michelle Periera, Christine Rea, Ashton Byrum, Gina Valentine, Kim Goldfeder and musician Delisco.
The goal for the event is to raise $50,000, which can be surpassed if the event sells out its 1,400-seat capacity.
"These actors are high-level performers," said Ms. Csapo. "People are going to love it."
Lou Gibilisco, the theater director, will emcee the event.
Area businesses have donated items for a raffle to be held the night of the performance, including gift certificates from restaurants.
The benefit for Gail’s Fund will begin at 8 p.m. in the theater at Notre Dame High School, on Route 206 in Lawrenceville.
Tickets are available for a $35 donation (rear orchestra or balcony seating) or a $50 donation (front orchestra seating), and are tax deductible.
Tickets can be purchased through Anchor House at (609) 278-9495. Tickets will also be sold from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in Quakerbridge Mall in front of Lord and Taylor’s.
Tickets purchased after Saturday will be held at the door on the night of the performance.
