White Hot Saturday Night Returns

“It’s a beautiful way to get together with old and new friends and show how much we love and appreciate the JCC.”

— Natalie Batalion                     

December 9, 2022

Tomorrow night, the JCC will transform the gymnasium into a Havana Nights cocktail party in honor of the annual White Hot Saturday Night. This signature fundraising event, known for its fabulous auctions and entertainment, will feature custom cocktails, delicious food, music, live and silent auctions, and more. 

The event raises funds to support the JCC’s most vulnerable populations, including participants in our Center for Special Needs, the Gift of Literacy + Math Tutoring Program, as well as scholarships for children attending our summer camp programs, Day Camp @ the JCC and Camp Settoga. 

Adena Kerstein, the JCC’s director of special events, is excited to be back for another year, in person. “It’s a really fun party that’s a great opportunity for young families to come together to support the JCC’s general operations.” Adena shared a few fun highlights of this year’s event,  which will include Latin dancers, a mojito bar, and signature shots with names like “Meyerson Margarita” and “Havana Heat Fireball.”

White Hot Saturday Night is co-chaired by Natalie and David Batalion, Alexandra Bunzl and Fabio Di Prima, and Julie and Bradley Cohen. Natalie describes co-hosting as an honor. She says, “The JCC holds such a special place in my heart. I’ve been working here for almost 12 years. My kids come here every day after school and have been here since the Tummy Time classes.”

Her favorite part of the event is getting “to celebrate with the community. It’s a beautiful way to get together with old and new friends and show how much we love and appreciate the JCC. It’s also a really fun party with amazing food and drinks.”

The White Hot auction is held online leading up to the evening, with silent and live auctions for those attending in person. The auction catalog, viewed by over 3,000 people daily, is open to bidders anywhere. Packages this year include vacation getaways for a South African safari and to Pompano Beach, Florida; passes to tapings of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Late Night with Seth Meyers; tickets to Broadway shows, including the closing performance of The Music Man; tickets to Giants, Rangers, and Mets games; exclusive dining and spirit experiences with restaurants like Don Angie, Dagon, and others; a JCC rooftop catered party; boutique and private group fitness classes; and so much more. Online bidding is now open on the White Hot website.

In addition to White Hot Saturday Night, the JCC’s other special fundraising event is the Annual Benefit. Taking place each spring, the Annual Benefit is the JCCs largest and most significant event, raising critical funds to support the many vital programs and services we offer to the community. While the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan relies on the generosity of institutional donors, including foundations, corporations, and government agencies, individual donations also allow the MMJCCM to offer a rich and diverse array of programming for our community. Individual support can be provided in a multitude of ways, including individual donations, matching gifts, tributes, AmazonSmile, and more. 

Story Editor: Lauren Magy. Lauren is the Director of Public Relations + Community Engagement at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan. She has worked at theater and cultural institutions in DC and NY for the past decade.