ALIVE! at the Bridge Project Gala
by Carolyn Ajie

Thank you to the Anna and John J. Sie Foundation for the opportunity to bring our students to the Bridge Project's annual celebration. Thank you to all the ALIVE! students who attended; you were perfect in every way. Your dress, behavior, company and conversation were beyond words.

The evening's piece de resistance: Meeting Ms. Patti LaBelle — and especially Jonathan's connection with her. A completely unexpected benefit was the opportunity for our table to meet Ms. LaBelle before her performance. We enjoyed a lovely meal and were escorted to the reception area. There Ms. LaBelle graciously received our group and Jonathan approached her — clearly knowing who she is (said he listens to her music on "Smooth Jazz") and asked her to please sing the song that is "playing in my head." Well, she was intrigued, and together they figured out it was "Lady Marmalade" and she agreed to sing it if he would join her on stage!

We returned to our table to watch the show. Unfortunately, the hour was getting late and several in our group left before witnessing this main event. True to her word, after two songs, Patti LaBelle talked about the wonderful young man she had just met and asked Jonathan to join her on stage.

I forgot to mention that in preparation for his "debut," Jonathan plucked a rose from a centerpiece to present to Ms. LaBelle — which of course he did. Well, from that point on, Jonathan stole the show! He talked with her about his affection for her music (he was overcome with emotion at one point) and listened as she sang for him. She gave him the microphone a few times and Jonathan filled the audience in on his plans to attend college and to marry Penny Duggan. Then Patti included Penny in her next song! It was all so incredible! Jonathan stayed onstage throughout the remainder of the show, interacting with Ms. LaBelle — dancing, singing and talking with her and the audience.

After the event, several members of the dinner crowd approached us and said how impressed they were with our whole table and how wonderful Jonathan had been.

Thank you again to everyone who participated in making this such a special evening that will long be remembered by all who attended.