Jazz For Jennings

The Bridgehampton Child Care & Recreational Center will host its annual Jazz For Jennings benefit on Sunday, June 23, from 12:30 to 4 PM at the Watermill Center.

Now in its fifth year, Jazz For Jennings is named after the late news anchor, Peter Jennings, who passed away in August 2005 of lung cancer. Jennings was the sole anchor of “ABC World News Tonight” for over 20 years and dedicated himself to the community and the Bridgehampton organization, hosting an annual Jazz at Jennings event. This year’s event will offer an afternoon of food, wine, and jazz by Evan Sherman & Friends featuring Ku-umba Frank Lacy.

Evan Sherman, drummer and bandleader, has toured the world with bands that include New York City’s rising stars and a rotation of guests. Formed in 2014, Evan Sherman Big Band has performed at the Rainbow Room in Rockefeller Center, The Appel Room, Bowery Electric, The Django, and others. The band has featured notable legends such as Cyrus Chestnut, Johnny O’Neal, and Roy Hargrove. Today, alongside featured trombonist/vocalist Frank Lacy, musicians include Patrick Bartley Jr., Andrew Latona, Julius Rodriquez, and Daniel Winshall.

The Center provides programs for children in the community. During the school year, there are countless after-school and weekend activities, ranging from SAT prep to a Scrabble team. During the months of July and August, BCCRC provides a low-cost summer camp with sporting activities, gardening, even a HOPE Learning Program.

In May, the organization celebrated 65 years as a community hub. In honor of such a milestone, the original farmhouse donated in the 1950s will retire as new ground breaks in 2020 on the six-acre farm. The new building is set to include new classrooms, office space, a library, and computer lab.

“Back in 2015, when we first decided to re-imagine what had been Jazz at Jennings, we thought Jazz for Jennings would be a one-off to help the Center. We never imagined that the event’s success would become so important to the growth and sustainability of programming for the Center. It started with a new playground, then a refurbished basketball court. We were able to finish a basement storage area and create a studio for dance classes, presentations, and art classes for our afterschool and summer program,” said Deb Sanzo McEneaney, the Center’s head of marketing and development. For the summer program, the organization aims to purchase 25 Chrome Books as well as offer scholarships to children in need.

Proceeds will support the center’s educational, recreational, and enrichment programs. Tickets are available at www.bhccrc.org.

nicole@indyeastend.com