Winslow to host 37th anniversary Denim and Diamonds Gala on Nov. 5

Former Congressman Ben Gilman and board member Michael Kennedy will be honored for their longtime support Warwick — Some tickets may still be available for a spectacular upcoming event. From 6 to 10 on Saturday evening, Nov. 5, Winslow Therapeutic Center will host its annual Denim and Diamonds Gala fund raiser at the Falkirk Estate and Country Club at 206 Smith Clove Road in Central Valley. The event will also serve to celebrate Winslow’s 37th anniversary. Formerly known as The Inn at Central Valley, the renovated Falkirk Estate and Country Club has received wide acclaim for its cuisine and service as well as picturesque setting. The gala will feature a cash bar and dinner, served with complimentary wine courtesy of Empire Merchants North, and dancing to the music of 18-time Grammy winner Jimmy Sturr and his Orchestra. Tickets are $125 and all proceeds will directly benefit the riders at Winslow Therapeutic Center. Two to be honored One of the highlights of the evening will be the presentation of awards to this year’s honorees: former Congressman Ben Gilman and Michael Kennedy. Gilman has been instrumental in informing the public of the work of Winslow and the benefits of therapeutic riding. Kennedy has been a longtime member of Winslow’s Board of Directors and had the vision to donate a hydraulic lift to enable the wheelchair bound to mount a horse safely. Winslow is a not for profit hippotherapy and therapeutic riding center accredited by the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association and devoted to the special needs population of Orange and surrounding counties. The center, located on 100 acres of scenic land just off Route 17A in Warwick, has been offering unique horseback riding experiences to children and adults in this community since 1974. In addition to sponsorship opportunities for the 2011 Denim and Diamonds Gala, the “Winslow Courier,” produced through Straus News, will be distributed at the Gala. It will also be circulated in the Advertiser-News, The Photo News and The Warwick Advertiser, and will reach 30,000 homes and businesses in this area. In Winslow’s continuing effort to provide learning opportunities for those they serve, the instructors and their students now employ a new teaching aide, the iPad. The multi-touch display as well as a virtual onscreen keyboard, instead of a physical keyboard, control the advanced technology. With this in mind members of the Auction Committee for Winslow’s Gala fund raiser will offer several iPad 2’s for raffle. Each winner, who need not be present, will receive a high end iPad 2 with Wi-Fi plus a 3G Verizon 32GB. The remaining and less expensive iPads, also provided by generous donations, will be used by Winslow to help children and adults with communication challenges. Additional iPad donations are welcome. Courier ad space is sold out but a limited number of Gala tickets, iPad raffle tickets and sponsorships are still available by calling Winslow Therapeutic Riding at 986-6686, or by contacting a board member. For additional information visit: www.winslow.org.