On Sunday, more that 500 theater goers attended a private reception and

On Sunday, more that 500 theater goers attended a private reception and the matinee performance of the smash Broadway hit, Annie the Musical, in an extraordinary show of support for The New York Foundling, one of the City’s oldest and largest children and family services agencies. I have such vivid memories of seeing Allison Smith play Annie when I was a little girl! The event was hosted by CNN “Starting Point” anchor and Foundling volunteer, Soledad O’Brien, who served as emcee of the informal program and attended with her family. We were so happy to partake in such an historical production.

On hand at the Palace Theatre were “real-life Annies”, Foundling children involved with the child welfare system who had never before seen a Broadway show. These children from The Foundling’s Have Academy Charter School, located in the Mott Haven section of the South Bronx, serenaded Annie composer Charles Strouse with their own rendition of the show-stopping song “Tomorrow”.

Bill Baccaglini, CEO of The New York Foundling, thanked Bill Rudin and Anthony Watson for their extraordinary efforts that have helped the Foundling protect children and preserve families.

Among the other Foundling supporter’s at the reception and performance were Producer Arielle Tepper Madover; Tony Award winning and Annie the Musical Stage Director James Lapine; Philanthropist and Chair & Co-founder of New York Harbor Parks Marian Heiskell, who attended with her daughter and grandchildren, Mrs. Wellington Mara who also attended with her grandchildren, President of Signature Construction Dan Tomai; and Annie the Musical cast members.

As for the doggie actor who played Sandy? Tony Award-winning animal trainer William Berloni selected Sunny, a 2 year-old terrier mix, to star as Sandy. Sunny was just hours away from being euthanized when Berloni spotted her photo online and rescued her from BARC, a Houston shelter.

“Her description was so sweet and she looked very much like the original Sandy that we were just saving her to find her a home,” Berloni told the Associated Press. Berloni, who trained Sandy in the 1977 production of Annie, then met Sunny in person and realized the scruffy golden-haired dog could be a star.

For more information, please visit The New York Foundling’s website www.nyfoundling.org.