3,051 children lost a parent on September 11th, 2001. 1,609 adults lost their spouses. Even today, on the twelve year anniversary of the most horrific act that most of us will see in our lives, the sheer numbers are startling. But in the wake of tragedy lies the inspirational stories of the mourners, the survivors, the family members given no choice but to live on with the emptiness of their losses. Enter Tuesday’s Children, a nonprofit organization that works with the surviving families of the victims in mentoring, support, guidance, and leadership initiatives that help ensure some stability as their lives re-acclimate back to some semblance of normalcy. Tuesday evening, the organization would celebrate their now annual fundraising gala benefit with “Evening of Light,” fittingly held on the 29th floor space of Four World Financial Center and attended by celebrities, philanthropic guests, and those directly helped by the programs of Tuesday’s Children.
Somehow the unfinished white warehouse like space proved to be the perfect setting for the evening, with panoramic views of the Hudson River extending out toward the New Jersey waterfront. Guests would file in from the elevators, being greeted by glasses of wine and passed around hors d’oeuvres as they would walk the entirety of the massive space- equipped with a full stage set up for live music, a wide open area for some red carpet photos and mingling, and a posh dining room to host the evening’s main program. Scattered throughout the room were the powerful images of children holding pictures of the family members they lost on 9/11, certainly a poignant portrayal that puts the enormity of the now annual event in perspective.
The entertainment would get kicked off in a hurry as the Men in My Head Band, led by Co-Owner of Century 21 Eddie Gindi and his mates would perform “Survivor Tree.” While the “Evening of Light” would be honoring Matt Scheckner, President and CEO of consulting firm Stillwell Partners, the organization would also welcome some other special luminaries. In 2012, Tuesday’s Children welcomed soulful songstress Macy Gray to their gala event- this time they would bring out former member of The Eagles Don Felder, to perform some familiar acoustic tunes as well as the evening’s special guest emcee, comedian Susie Essman of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” fame. Essman, who arrived early, graciously posed for pictures on the red carpet with some of the evening’s proprietors and special corporate guests, even as other attendees were just making their way inside.
With heavy hearts on such a somber anniversary, pulling off a joyous gala is certainly no easy feat. But with the memories of our fallen citizens on the forefront of our mind as this date nears year after year, the “Evening of Light” event is more of a celebration of their lives and the lives of their spouses and children that they live through, now more than a decade after the events of 2001. And fortunately, with all of the funds raised on this night, the advocacy and initiatives utilized by Tuesday’s Children can continue to mentor and assist these spouses and their children in perpetuity.

- Jane Van Arsdale