GOTO in the News

This morning, GOTO-NYC President Kelsy Hill was on the PIX 11 Morning News promoting GOTO and GiveBackNYE.com. Check out the video below ...

GOTO Annual Appeal Video

Our Holiday Appeal

As our 2009 Annual Meeting came to a close, Jenzia Burgos’s father (Victor) rose to his feet and delivered a passionate plea. Jenzia (‘09) was only three months removed from her first GOTO-funded summer camp experience, and Victor’s appreciation for GOTO’s impact was clear…

“Schools have been cutting art, music, shop- anything that has to do with creativity. When I went to school you had that, and now that is all disappearing. This program is a way of keeping that alive… Don’t stop! It is something that our kids desperately need and it is vital to their enhancement of themselves becoming creative human beings.”

In 2010, we’re adopting Victor’s plea as our theme for GOTO supporters: Don’t stop.

Your support during what has been a difficult economic year has been incredible, but you can’t stop now. With your continued support in 2010, we’ll be able to keep giving opportunities to others into the next year and beyond. So please consider making a donation to GOTO this holiday season. Gifts of every size make a difference.

And if you're looking for more a more dynamic sales pitch on reasons to give to GOTO, check out this video.

Happy Holidays!

GOTO NYC Halloween Recap - 12.16 Photo Update

Wow. What an amazing Halloween party.

651 guests. Tons of outrageous costumes. And good times had by all.

There's a great recap of our sold-out Halloween fundraiser in downtown Manhattan on CharityHappenings.org. Photos as well.

We should have a larger selection of photos up on our blog soon.

**UPDATE** Full photo gallery is now up on the mothersite: http://www.thegotogroup.net/gallery/v/halloween09/

Enjoy!

Because of camp ...

GOTO's Annual Appeal season has begun and we'll soon be asking all of our smart, generous, good looking supporters for donations.

While some of you may take our word on the benefits of summer camp and the arts, other may need additional persuasion. Below is one such piece of persuasion.

This short clip - created by the American Camp Association - highlights how the camp experience has changed the lives of a couple of notable artists.

Click Here for $5,000,000

A few weeks ago, our friends at Chase launched the Chase Community Giving program.

Through this program, they’ll be giving away five million dollars to charities that tally the most votes on Facebook. GOTO is one of the charities vying for those millions.

Check out this link to vote for GOTO and help us raise more money for our awesome scholars. Think of it like a charity popularity contest. If you like us – vote for us. And you do like us, don’t you?

You have until this Friday (December 11th) to register & vote.

So register and vote right now. Our kids are counting on you …

2/26/2010: Back to the Bowery

Ladies & gentlemen, mark your calendars.

On Friday, February 26th GOTO is going back to Capitale for our 2010 Winter Gala. If your idea of a good time is great music, amazing food, fun guests & a five-star venue, I promise that you won't be disappointed.

To get a feel for the GOTO Winter Gala vibe, check out photos from last year's party at Capitale here.

Tickets go on sale in a few weeks. Until then, save that date.

Seen at Halloween NYC 2009 (Part 1)

Seen at Halloween NYC 2009 (Part 2)

Seen at Halloween NYC 2009 (Part 3)

Seen at Halloween NYC 2009 (Part 4)

Seen at Halloween NYC 2009 (Part 5)

GOTO Board Transition

Today, GOTO hosted our 2009 Fall Volunteer Conference. In addition to regional updates, financial updates & karaoke with a few GOTO scholars (more on that soon!), we also unveiled our new-look Board of Directors.

Retiring immediately from regular Board duty is outgoing Chairman, Jason Liddell. Stephen Moeller (Treasurer and Director of Finance) & Geoff Adamson will be transitioning off of the Board in early 2010.

With these changes, GOTO's founding Directors (pictured in super-serious volunteering mode back in '03 above) have completely given way to an exciting new team of leaders (led by new Chairman & Executive Director, Rainah Berlowitz).

GOTO owes a lot to the contributions of Steve, Dana Deluce, Cam Snaith, Danny Salmon, Jason & Geoff (not pictured). But the future looks really bright in the hands of Rainah, Jon, Mel, Dave, Christine, Kelsy & Matt.

Below are the slides detailing the transition.

Thanks again to the founding Directors. And a hearty congratulations to the new Board!

Halloween 2009 Guide - New York Magazine

There are still a few more weeks to get your costumes in order for the New York & Boston Halloween Costume parties.

And in case you're still in need of more ideas & inspiration, here are a few Halloween costume recs courtesy of New York Magazine.

Lady Gaga & Michael Jackson anyone?

The Sports Guy's Halloween Costume Advice

Author, ESPN.com & ESPN the Magazine columnist, 'podcaster' and now costume consultant? Bill Simmons has some advice for all of you who are still searching for that perfect costume for GOTO’s Halloween Costume Ball.

He recently answered the following question from one of his readers:

I'm a 24-year-old female looking for a Halloween costume that (a) isn't skanky (does that exist anymore??) and (b) will piss off as many people in NYC as possible. I'm from MA and it goes without saying a huge NE sports fan and somehow got sucked into living and working in Times Square for the past two years so I'd love a costume that would further alienate myself from the people in this city. Suggestions??

Check out the Sports Guy’s latest column (and scroll to the bottom) for his four suggestions.

Come to think of it, maybe his suggestions are better suited for our Boston Halloween Costume Ball ...

Halloween 2009: The DIY Costume Year

According to the 2009 Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey (seriously - this survey really exists), 16.8% of Americans will be making their own costumes this year instead of purchasing them. And 15.8% will be reusing last year's costumes.

At GOTO's Halloween Costume Ball, we strongly encourage do-it-yourself costumes. So you frugal '09 Halloweeners will fit right in with us.

And if you're still looking for costume ideas for this year's party, you won't find them in the aforementioned survey. Below are their projected top ten adult costumes for Halloween this year.

Apparently, 2009 is also the year when Americans will stop trying:

1. Witch.

2. Vampire

3. Pirate

4. Clown

5. Wench/Tart/Vixen

6. Cat

7. Devil

8. Scary Costume/Mask

9. Athlete

10. Police Officer

Hey DJ!

GOTO NY's Halloween Costume Party is a few weeks away and tickets are going quickly. That pace isn't likely to let up anytime soon now that we've got two of New York's hottest DJ's - DJ Karomel & Edgar Guerrero - lined up for the night.

DJ Karomel is a 16 year veteran of the New York underground dance scene. Having worked as an audio engineer and studio manager for major musical artists such as Eric Morillo, Karomel also found his musical inspiration from entertainers like Louie Vega, Danny Tenaglia, Armand Van Heldon, Audio Bully’s and Daft Punk.

Karomel has traveled around the world experiencing the house music movement on a global scale. His ability to adjust to his audience and seamlessly mix various genres of music makes DJ Karomel a unique and desirable presence in the New York entertainment industry.

Edgar Guerrero emerged out of the Miami dance music scene in 1996 and since has DJed, promoted and managed a number of Miami’s hottest nightclubs. In 2006, Edgar moved to New York to enlighten a new audience using his musical talents.

Guerrero is a much-needed breath of fresh air in New York nightlife, and his shows are a musical experience sure to entertain audiences from around the globe.

A Halloween Fundraiser Retrospective

Historically, Halloween has always been GOTO's largest & most debaucherous fundraiser. Our very 1st Halloween party was held in a lounge in TriBeCa called Obeca Li. Obeca Li was over 15,000 square feet large and our decision to host the party there was a HUGE leap of faith. It was the largest GOTO venue to date by far.

The gamble paid off.

We sold 400+ tickets. Our guests' costumes were awesome. And the party was a blast. We haven't looked back since.

We're 5 weeks away from our 9th Halloween Costume Party and there's no reason to believe that this one won't be as much fun as the first.

If 2009 will be your first GOTO Halloween, check out the photos in the posts below to see what you've been missing.

Halloween 2001 Photos

Halloween 2002 Photos