Through a series of unique circumstances, Ellen Degeneres came to Glen Cove last month to attend a fundraiser for the Glen Cove Youth Bureau at North Country Reform Temple. The visit began through the RSVP initiative Ms. Degeneres launched on her television program and through its website so that she could attend one event when she visited New York. Jane Launer, whose father-in-law, Lee Launer, is the Glen Cove Youth Board vice chair, sent an invitation to Ms. Degeneres and through a series of on-air phone calls, Ellen selected the Casino Night fundraiser.

The fabulous day began with Ellen visiting Russell and Jane Launer in their Manhattan apartment. From there they drove to Glen Cove for the Casino Night at NCRT. Among those welcoming the Launers and Ms. Degeneres were Mayor Mary Ann Holzkamp, Youth Bureau director Lou Medina, former directors Juan Castro and Georgina Connett, NCRT Rabbi Janet Liss, Councilman/Assemblyman-Elect Charles Lavine, Councilman Tony Jimenez and Youth Board member Linda Perlman. Mayor Holzkamp presented Ms. Degeneres with a citation in appreciation of Ellen's support of the Youth Bureau and "making us all feel like dancing." Ellen graciously donated $5,000 to the Glen Cove Youth Bureau. She had such a good time and was so impressed with Jane Launer that she flew Jane and Russ to California to be part of the television show.

The show's producer and a full camera crew took about two hours of footage. They selected seven minutes that was shown on the morning of Nov. 12. Ellen was shown at the Launer's apartment, enjoying casino night games of chance and receiving her citation, all the while completely enjoying herself.

The main reason the evening was a success was because of the significant effort of the 35 volunteers who worked so diligently to arrange the fundraiser. This includes Carol Sucharski, Jackie Yonick, Sandra Potter, Charmaine Clarke, Youth Bureau Director Lou Medina, Linda Perlman, Ronnie Corbo, Grace Blank, Kathy Nadel and the entire Launer family.

If you would like to "rent" a DVD showing the events leading up to the evening and the footage shown on Ellen's show on NBC, please call Carol Sucharski at 671-4600.