The first annual Fall Festival, held recently at the College of Staten Island, was an overwhelming success. More than 10,000 people flocked to CSI’s park-like campus for the event, raising over $12,000 for the CSI Breast Cancer Initiative.
Attendees had a wide variety of activities and about 60 vendor booths from which to choose, including a pumpkin patch with pumpkin painting, live entertainment all day, costume parades and contests, great seasonal food and treats, face painting, a strolling unicyclist/juggler, free raffles every hour that included a NY Jets super basket with tickets and gear, tickets to Center for the Arts events paired with restaurant gift certificates, and more.
Jennifer Furnari, owner of The Little Gym, which offered free gymnastics clinics throughout the day, commented, “We were so happy to be a part of the CSI Fall [Festival] this weekend. It was wonderful to see so many families and children participate in the event. The Staten Island community has so much to offer and we were so happy to have had the opportunity to be a part of it. It was such a wonderful way to bring the community together and we look forward to being a part of it for years to come.”
Considering the great success of the event, CSI’s Interim Vice President for Institutional Research Robert Huber commented that “the College has proven that our Great Lawn lives up to its name. We are proud to host so many fun and family friendly activities, and we are already planning to make next year’s event bigger and better.”
Other participating companies at the Festival were The Home Depot, The Actor’s Workshop, Calla Karate, Babies ‘R’ Us, Art Lab Inc., Party With A Fairy Tale Princess, The Little Gym, FDNY, SIUH, A Little Bit Country, the Staten Island Yankees, Sweetbrook Nursery, SI Family Music, RUMC, Bernie’s Fun House, A&J Party Inflatables, and many others.
Fall Festival visitors were asked to make a $5 per person or $10 per family donation to the CSI Breast Cancer Initiative, a multidisciplinary approach toward making a positive impact on breast cancer incidence and mortality. In addition, Initiative representatives knitted and sold scarves at the Festival for $10 each to help raise additional funds.
The Festival was also sponsored, in part, by the CSI Alumni Association and the Friends of CSI.
