Boos and coats: BBA’s spooky soiree scores big for charity

November 17, 2023 Robert Abruzzese, Courthouse Editor

From left to right: Christina Golkin, Joy Thompson; President-Elect Anthony Vaughn Jr., and Hon. Carl Landicino, justice of the Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department.
Photos: Robert Abruzzese/Brooklyn Eagle

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The Brooklyn Bar Association recently hosted a successful Halloween-themed fundraiser, “Coat Drive, Cocktails and Costumes,” organized by its Diversity Committee, Membership Committee, and LGBTQ+ Committee.

The festive event, held on Oct. 30 at the historic BBA building in Brooklyn Heights, aimed to support the New York Cares charity with a unique blend of fun and philanthropy.

“Thank you so much for attending our Halloween party and coat drive,” said Christina Golkin, First Vice President and Chair of the LGBTQ+ Committee. “I want to thank Anthony Vaughn, Joy Thompson and Pam Walker, and everyone else who put in so much effort to decorate, to organize, make fliers, and everything to prepare.

The highlight of the evening was a dual focus on raising funds and collecting coats to help those in need during the upcoming winter season. Attendees, adorned in creative costumes, were encouraged to bring clean, gently used coats. The drive proved to be a success, collecting a total of 35 coats, including 19 women’s, 8 men’s and 8 children’s coats.

“We have made our goal tonight of raising $2,000 to give to New York Cares,” Golkin said. “The Bar Association is an amazing place that supports our attorneys and tries to do good work. This is one of those things. It is an amazing charity that we’ve fundraised for. It’s going to be winter soon, it’s going to be cold and we’ve all helped to make it a little better for those in need.”

Golkin explained that the Brooklyn Bar Association Foundation, the charitable arm of the BBA, will hold its next major fundraiser on Monday, December 4 at El Caribe in Mill Basin — its Annual Awards Dinner.

This year’s dinner will honor Howard Fensterman, managing partner at Abrams Fensterman, who will receive the President’s Award from Joseph Rosato. Hon. Sylvia Hinds-Radix, the former administrative judge of the Kings County Supreme Court, and Appellate Division Justice, and current Corporation Counsel of the City of New York, will be given the Distinguished Judicial Service Award.

The BBA will also honor retiring Kings County Supreme Court justices, recognizing the significant contributions of Justice Joseph Gubbay, Justice Esther Morgenstern, Justice Evelyn Laporte, Justice Mark Partnow, Justice Donald Kurtz, Justice Delores Thomas, Justice Karen Rothenberg, Justice Robin Garson and Justice Michael Milsap for their dedicated service and commitment to the judiciary and community.