| Issue #31, October 27, 2006 |
Entertainment In the Hamptons
Locals Helping Locals, Friends Helping Friends
When somebody in your family gets diagnosed with cancer, all you want to do is find some way to help. But many times there is very little you can do. This happened to Shannon Flaherty, a local girl from Springs who has spent all of her life in the Hamptons. After she graduated from East Hampton High School she attended to Southampton University and Suffolk Community College. One day she learned that her niece, Korinne McCarthy, had been diagnosed with a rare cancer. This was two years ago, and the six-year-old has been fighting the disease ever since. The medical costs for the family have been staggering. Bills in the hundred thousand dollar range for treatments such as a recent bone marrow transplant need to be paid. Shannon, who is now a bartender at Haven in Sag Harbor, a night-shift manager at Starbucks and a receptionist for Micky’s Carting, decided that she was going to do something about these bills.
After having a conversation with her father two years ago, she got the idea to organize a fundraiser and the Hamptons community reached out to the family in a not so surprising way. Nearly $30,000 was raised for the child, whose health seems to be improving every day.
I was not surprised to see Shannon walking around Sag Harbor one day, asking various vendors for donations for a second fundraiser that she is having on November 5th at the American Legion Hall in Amagansett from 4 to 9 p.m. The 23-year-old has been preparing for the fundraiser since the summer and has set up quite a wonderful night of entertainment for a great cause. For $10 at the door, charitable people can enter into a raffle with prizes from local vendors and restaurants, who have also opened their hearts to the Flahertys and the McCarthys.
The Laundry in East Hampton donated a dinner for two gift certificate, as has JLX in Sag Harbor; local artists Chris Beckmann and Oliver Peterson have donated paintings; Long Island Sound in East Hampton gave a gift certificate, as did Starbucks and Island Surf in Sag Harbor. Shannon has also organized two performers for the evening. Perry Pollaci and Jason Liebman of the band The Ready Set will perform solo acts during the fundraiser – all for a child who struggles daily to even do things as simple as eating.
Shannon works with her Dad at Micky’s Carting a couple of days a week and he is more than proud of what his daughter has put together for the family. Many people have noticed the flyers she has posted around town and are planning to attend the night for the great cause and for the great family. After all, this is a very small community and we should be willing to help a neighbor, friend or even stranger that is in need when they cross a rough spot in their life. This is why we are letting you know about this fundraiser, because this local family is a family of nice people who would be there for you if the time came.
And so, I’ll be seeing you at the American Legion in Amagansett on November 5th between 4 and 9 p.m. to enjoy a great evening, while helping out a sick child. There are very few things that are more right than that.
If you don’t happen to be in the area, but want to donate money to Korrinne’s family you can do it by writing a check to “Friends Of James and Erin McCarthy” and mail it to Care of Flaherty, 4 Chapel Lane, East Hampton, NY 11937.
One hundred percent of all the money that is raised will be going directly to Shannon’s niece so that medical expenses can be paid and a family’s hardships can be eased. If you have questions about the fundraiser, you can call Shannon at 631-255-5294.
–David Lion Rattiner
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