Mayor Marty Small and his family were all in red Saturday night at his Inaugural Gala. But he was focusing on the green it was bringing in for several organizations.
Playing off his political mantra of "Here Come the Reds," Small, his son, daughter and wife, Superintendent Dr. La'Quetta Small, graced the red carpet at Harrah's Atlantic City in the bold color.
The black-tie affair "Together We Rise" also sponsored by the Hard Rock was part of a three-day belated celebration for Small's win at the polls and a major fundraiser for the Greater Atlantic City Youth Association, or GACYA.
The goal was a half-million dollars, but "we knocked that out of the park," Small said.
The event raised $536,333.
"This gala's the largest mayoral gala in the history of Atlantic City by attendees and money raised," Small said. "That's big."
He noted that he could have made the proceeds benefit his own election till, "but as I always say, the children and our seniors are our two most precious resources."
"Organizations like the Boys and Girls Club and (Police Athletic League) helped mold me into who I am today," Small added.
He also has close ties to the Atlantic City Dolphins, which uses little league football and cheerleading programs to develop qualities of discipline, teamwork and physical well-being in its young participants.
Those three groups are among five umbrellaed under the GACYA.
It also includes the Empowerment Tools Coalition led by Shermaine Gunter-Gary. It helps enhance community-based organizations through grant writing, training, coalition building and business resources.
Rounding out the group is the Omega by the Sea Foundation, which says it promotes community uplift through volunteer initiatives and philanthropic assistance to groups and individuals. It is part of the work of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.
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