Photo Coverage: The Friar's Foundation Honors Connie Francis and Leonard A. Wilf at Applause Award Gala
Yesterday, June 6, the Friars Club Foundation honored legendary singer Connie Francis and philanthropist Leonard A. Wilf at their annual Applause Award Gala. Tony Orlando, Neil Sedaka, the cast of BABY IT'S YOU and Jay Black were among the evening's performers. BroadwayWorld brings you coverage of the event below.
The Friars National Association Foundation was formed in 1977. It was founded by Buddy Howe who was then the Dean of the Friars Club. The Friars foundation is a publicly-supported foundation, whose function is to review and evaluate grant requests and to award grants in the name of the Friars. The Foundation is the conduit through which the Friars accomplish one of its major goals: The betterment of our society, particularly in the area of the perfoirming arts. To achieve this objective, 75% of its grants are made for students' scholarship in the Performing Arts and to small Performing Arts groups. The remaining 25% of its grants are made to organizations helping the less fortunate.
The Friars Foundation is an important contributor to the Performing Arts. Academia recognizes the Friars Foundation as an upfront organization due to their activist scholarship programs. Nine universities with solid performing arts departments have granted scholarships to qualified students. Over the past decade the Friars Foundation has been responsible for 360 Performing Arts scholarships. Many of these students are now employed on Broadway, Hollywood and wherever stages are being prepared for performances.
Photo Coverage: Stephen Sorokoff
Freddie Roman, Friar of the Year Winner
Friar of the Year
Stewie Stone, Leonard A. Wilf, Joseph Zappala (Chairman of the Board Friars Foundation)
Tony Orlando (not Dawn)
Cast of BABY IT'S YOU
Jay Black
Jay Black
Jay Black
Pat Cooper & Stephen Sorokoff
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