ZoBox Politix

The following is an article I wrote for a local paper.  Its a little off-subject for ZoboxPolitix, but interesting none-the-less (also contains foto of ZOBOXROX… can you spot me?):

At a time when people are gripping their wallets just a little bit tighter, The Bereavement Center of Westchester finds unique ways to make ends meet.  With the help of local businesses and the enormous generosity of 109 Pondfield Salon owners, Nick and Mark DeVincenzo, BCW threw their sixth annual Evening of Bliss Friday, March 13th.  While this is but one of many fundraising efforts for the center, it is special in the way it gives back to both its donors and its community at large.

The Bereavement Center opened its doors in 1995, through the efforts of Jansen Memorial Hospital and The Junior League of Bronxville. The Center offers a variety of programs to help individuals and families cope with the death of a significant person in their life, which include the Tree House program, dedicated to helping children and their parent or guardian process their feelings of grief, the School Outreach program offers both assistance and consultation to help school communities create safe, supportive environments for grieving children and teens.  They also offer Adult Groups throughout the year and Individual Counseling for those adults and children who need personal guidance and attention.

While BCW caters to many groups, the eight-week long Tree House Program is the cornerstone of the Center, providing grief support specifically designed for children, ages 4-18, who have lost a parent or a sibling. Connie Moustakes, a 12-year veteran of the volunteer program and board member describes the Tree House as “a safe place [for kids] to tell their story without feeling the isolation of loss.  The program gives them the tools and language to discuss their feelings with others.”

109 Pondfield Salon owner Nick DeVincenzo understands the struggle of dealing with grief at a young age.  Growing up in war-torn Italy as the fourth of eight children, Nick experienced his first major loss when he was only eleven and his father died.  While the next decade was filled with hardship, he found himself in Bronxville by his twenty-first birthday.  This April, 109 Pondfield will celebrate its 48th year of operation, and what started as four chairs in a small store-front, has evolved into an elegant, yet refreshingly welcoming high end salon.

Nick gushes when he tells me about his youngest daughter, who is in the middle of her residency at Yale University Hospital.  “We try to give as much as we can back to Bronxville because it was very good to us,” he says, when I ask him about the past six years of hosting the Bliss event.  “I look forward to it every year.  Its our way to help serve the people – everybody,” which is exactly how Nick runs his business.

Just ask his son, Mark, who six years ago joined his father three days a week at 109, for the first time in his long and illustrious career, which began at an apprenticeship with Vidal Sassoon, and has more recently been spent as the creative director of the Frederic Fekkai salon on Fifth Avenue. Of his father he says, “Nick taught me to do business the way you should – honestly and humbly.”  In turn they have found themselves, “fortunate enough to be able to give back to the community.”

On top of the absolutely fabulous hair styling from 109 Pondfield (and my own personal makeover from Mark himself!), this year’s Evening of Bliss also included mini neck massages from Peter Iocovello of the Village Day Spa, makeup by Maison Rouge, wine donated by Eddie Dowd, and delicious munchies provided by Steven Palm, followed by dinner at his restaurant Underhills Crossing, with 20% of the proceeds going to BCW.  In addition, four local businesses, J. McLaughlin, Kensington Paper, Mano a Mano, and Toney, Toni and the Gang, joined in on the Bliss, donating 10% of their profits from Friday to the Center.

Laura, a donor and attendee of the Evening, despite never having used the Center  herself raved about its positive effects on both the community and individuals she has known in the past.  She described the event as, “a really special night of bonding for an incredibly good cause.  I came back from out of town and shopped all day just to be a part of it.”

And I don’t blame her.  When it comes to looking good and feeling good, An Evening of Bliss at 109 Pondfield worked perfectly to provide truly that.