Photo Flash: Lower Eastside Service Center Celebrates 51 Years at Gala

Heidi Albertsen, Melissa Russo and Justine Simmons joined to raise funds for the Lower Eastside Service Center (LESC), which benefited the center's camp for at-risk youth and the pregnant women and infant program. The gala was held at Capitale last evening.

"Both these programs are vitally important to LESC's mission and are the only ones still in need of funding," said Ms. Albertsen. "LESC is very grateful for the funding it receives to deal with chemical dependency, but we need to raise as much as possible in order to complete our mission of serving the community at our highest level."

LESC celebrated its 51st year as a non-profit working with the Lower East Side community to assist those afflicted with substance abuse. It provides a full continuum of treatment and care for New Yorkers living with chemical dependency and mental health issues. LESC is accredited with full standards compliance by the Commission of Accredited Rehabilitation Facilities, which means LESC has passed an in-depth review of its services, and received three exemplary commendations.

"Providing services for young people and pregnant women who are affected by chemical dependency is important work," said Ms. Simmons. "We must all band together to help people get back on the right track in life and limit long term dangerous affect of controlled substances."

NBC Anchor Melissa Russo hosted the evening's festivities, which included guests such as Rev Run, Nicole Miller, Elizabeth Hoadley, Petula Clark and Bob Weinstein.