SPRING BENEFIT 2025
An Evening With Our Stars is a community talent benefit hosted by The Waldorf School of Garden City. This event brought together students, alumni, faculty, and community members for a night of unforgettable performances, community connection, and fundraising.
Celebrate Talent
23 young artists took the stage and performed for a sold-out venue with standing room only. With over 170 guests of varying ages, these performers showcased the skill and talent to engage an audience and received standing ovations.
Build Community
Thanks to generous corporate sponsorship, this celebration of the community raised money and morale.
Make an Impact
With $42,000 raised in support of the Annual Fund, the inaugural event set an expectation for community fundraisers on campus.
FRIDAY MAY 16 2025 TH
FEATURING:
DAN STRAUSS ‘88
FRANKLIN RANKIN ‘13
LOGAN, JACK, ELEANORE, AVERY, DOUNIA
SIMON MATTHEW
IMANI ANNA
LISA & DHARMA
NADIA DAYNA
SAM & JASPER
KAYA
ELIZABETH
PANTELIA
OGER, SEBASTIAN, UIDE, JEFFREY, SAM
Dan Strauss is a seasoned, dynamic singer-songwriter whose music blends the introspective lyricism of alternative folk with the energy of rock. Since emerging in the late 90s, Dan has steadily built a reputation for his evocative storytelling and memorable melodies. Over the course of his career, he has released seven albums, with *The Haze of Winter Flowers* being his latest, showcasing his continued evolution as an artist. As a dedicated touring musician, Dan regularly performs in New York City and throughout the Northeast, playing intimate house concerts, vibrant clubs, and serene vineyards. Notable venues he has graced include The Bitter End, Rockwood Music Hall, Daryl’s House, and Club Helsinki. Dan’s music has drawn comparisons to artists such as Elliot Smith, Aimee Mann, John Lennon, Beck, and Paul Westerberg.
Strauss continues to captivate audiences with his thoughtful songwriting and compelling performances, making him a respected figure in alter
Meet Franklin Rankin, a New York-based guitarist, composer, and producer. Known for his soulful tones and genre-pushing artistic contributions to projects of all shapes and sizes, Rankin boasts 18 years of guitar experience and manages a robust playing life in NYC, clocking in more than 250 gigs a year. Franklin's passion for music was evident from a young age: his childhood studies at Harlem School of the Arts led him to the jazz composition program at Berklee College of Music (where he completed his Bachelor of Arts), followed by the jazz studies master's degree program at NYU.
Franklin has played iconic venues like Arthur Ashe Stadium, The Palace Theater, Lincoln Center, and The Blue Note, and collaborated with artists like Wynton Marsalis and Azealia Banks. Featured on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, his instant songwriting skills wowed audiences across the world. Rankin is currently on the road with Ben Platt for his Summer 2024 Honeymind Tour, where their 3-week residency on Broadway at the Palace Theater has seen Rankin supporting artists like Kacey Musgraves, Cynthia Erivo, Kristen Chenoweth, Tori Kelley, and Meghan Trainor. Rankin’s musical mastery across genres has solidified his position as a true staple in New York’s competitive music scene.
“Thankyousomuchfororganizingthe event,“AnEveningWithOurStars.”It wassuchabeautifulevent.Ihadthebest timeseeingtheexcellentperformances, havingthegreatfood,andlaughingso hardatJosé’shumor!Allthefantastic performancesstillblowmeaway.
Thankyousomuchforyourhardwork! Thiseventwassoworthit!” -LinneaFolk
Thank You to:
Thank you to the 23 talented youth performers and their supportive and affirming families. Deepest gratitude to Jose Almanzar, Gary Carle, Evelyn Escobar, Andrew Fallu, Aviva Gill, Andrea Gomez, Jeena Henao, Alexi Kritas, Jeanenne LaBella, Bianca LeRoux, Loretta Mignone, Ann Mulvehill, Nina Mullane, Gerald Owens, Kelly O’Halogan, Kevin Padilla, Victor Rivera, Franklin Rankin, Mauricio Saravia, Andrea Schimansky, Karen Schooley, Paul Schnabel, Dan Strauss, Martin Somers, Deirdre Somers, Manny Vega, and PFA—as well as all of our dedicated parent reps. Your time, talent, and unwavering support made this experience extraordinary.
