An afternoon in Great Neck is about to belong entirely to teenagers with big dreams and the women who built two organisations to help them reach those dreams. On Sunday, November 15, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM, EdeYouth Inc. and Alexander Y.E.S. open the doors of Leonard’s Palazzo, 555 Northern Blvd, Great Neck, NY 11021, for their 2026 Annual Benefit Gala under the motto „Elevation: Onward & Upward.“ The party doubles as a birthday: EdeYouth turns 16, and Alexander Y.E.S. turns 12.

A Story by Award Winning Managing Editor His Highness Dr. Prince Mario-Max zu Schaumburg-Lippe.

There will be dinner, there will be entertainment, and above all there will be stories – the kind that remind a room full of guests why showing up for young people matters. Anyone planning a New York weekend around the date will find the city in full swing, as our recent roundup of the holiday season kick-off in New York shows, and the gala gives that weekend a purpose beyond shopping and sightseeing.

A Retired Justice Takes the Microphone

The keynote speaker brings both authority and warmth. The Hon. Evelyn J. Laporte served on the New York State Supreme Court before retiring, and she now works as a mentor and confidence coach. For young guests who are learning to present themselves, speak up and trust their own abilities, there could hardly be a better voice. Hosting the afternoon is Schency Augustin, who will lead the audience through the honours and the celebrations.

Two Founders Who Started Small and Dreamed Big

EdeYouth was founded by Betty Aristide-Augustin, who still leads it as Executive Director. Alexander Y.E.S. was founded by Annette Hurd-Runcie, also its Executive Director, who together with her family runs Pa-Nash EuroSoul Catering & Events in Rosedale. Together, the two founders have turned neighbourhood commitment into institutions. Their gala sits comfortably in the season’s line-up of good-cause gatherings, alongside events like the Grant Cardone foundation cruise, where generosity also takes centre stage.

Eleven Honourees, One Unforgettable Roll Call

The heart of the afternoon is the awards roll call. Bernadette Gustama receives the Guardian Award. The Youth Empowerment Award goes to Prof. Jonathan Askin, Orlandina Balan and Diplomat Taiwo Julius Sanusi. Nadege Richards and Natasha Ulysse are honoured as Transformational Leaders. The Community Impact Award goes to Madeline A. Quintyne-McConney. Rulx Noel, filmmaker, entrepreneur and retired NYPD veteran of Denzy D. Films, receives the Beacon of Hope Award. And Caleb Zac, himself an EdeYouth member, steps up as Emerging Leader – proof, in person, of what these programmes produce.

What EdeYouth Actually Does All Year

EdeYouth Inc. is a Queens-based nonprofit, a registered 501(c)(3) founded in 2010, serving young people ages 13 to 21 under the motto „Empowering Youth, Strengthening Families, Transforming Communities.“ Its Empowering Young People programme, EYP, teaches financial literacy, entrepreneurship, professional etiquette, job and college readiness, and pairs participants with mentors, scholarships and licensed professionals. You’re Not Alone, or YANA, tackles mental health head-on, with certified professionals running workshops on depression, trauma, anxiety, self-esteem and suicide prevention. A third strand, Vocational Training, teaches sewing, culinary arts, social and dining etiquette and art decoration, with certificates that lead to real jobs.

The results deserve the spotlight they will get on November 15. Since 2010, EdeYouth reports 55 lives saved in the United States and 950 lives saved in Haiti, and more than 200 young people helped into jobs. Numbers like that explain why Leonard’s Palazzo will be full.

Twelve Young People at a Time

Alexander Y.E.S. stands for Alexander Youth Etiquette for Success and carries the name of Alexander Hurd, the founder’s father. The idea is small on purpose: six young girls and boys are recruited each year for a 12-month intensive programme of etiquette training and empowerment seminars with guest speakers and professionals, and each participant is placed with a small business in the community. The stated goal is to uplift the community 12 youth at a time, honouring the founder’s parents and their belief in always helping others.

Tickets, Dress Code for the Heart, and How to Book

Donations are $200 per guest, following the $150 early bird rate that ended on November 9, and include dinner, entertainment and inspiration. Reservations are open at www.edeyouth.org, and press are warmly welcomed, with interview and photo opportunities available through communications@edeyouth.org. Sixteen years and twelve years of patient, personal work will fill one glittering room on November 15 – and every ticket sold writes the next chapter.

GALA-WAHNSINN IN GREAT NECK! ZWEI QUEENS-HELDINNEN FEIERN IHRE JUGEND-STARS – ELF PREISE, EINE LEGENDAERE RICHTERIN, TAUSEND GERAETTETE LEBEN!

Es wird der Nachmittag des Jahres auf Long Island! Am Sonntag, 15. November 2026, von 14 bis 18 Uhr verwandeln EdeYouth Inc. und Alexander Y.E.S. das noble Leonard’s Palazzo, 555 Northern Blvd, Great Neck, NY 11021, in einen Palast der guten Taten. Das Motto der grossen Benefiz-Gala 2026: „Elevation: Onward & Upward“ – immer weiter nach oben! Und gefeiert wird doppelt: EdeYouth wird 16, Alexander Y.E.S. wird 12!

Die Festrede haelt eine Frau, vor der ganz New York Respekt hat: die ehrenwerte Evelyn J. Laporte, Richterin am Obersten Gerichtshof des Staates New York im Ruhestand, heute Mentorin und Confidence-Coachin. Durch den Nachmittag fuehrt Gastgeber Schency Augustin. Gegruendet wurden die beiden Organisationen von zwei Powerfrauen aus Queens: Betty Aristide-Augustin baute EdeYouth auf, Annette Hurd-Runcie schuf Alexander Y.E.S. und fuehrt zudem Pa-Nash EuroSoul Catering & Events in Rosedale.

Und dann kommen die Elf, auf die alle warten! Den Guardian Award erhaelt Bernadette Gustama. Den Youth Empowerment Award bekommen Prof. Jonathan Askin, Orlandina Balan und Diplomat Taiwo Julius Sanusi. Als Transformational Leader werden Nadege Richards und Natasha Ulysse geehrt. Der Community Impact Award geht an Madeline A. Quintyne-McConney. Beacon of Hope, Leuchtturm der Hoffnung: Rulx Noel, Filmemacher, Unternehmer und NYPD-Veteran im Ruhestand von Denzy D. Films. Und der juengste Star des Tages: Caleb Zac, selbst EdeYouth-Mitglied, als Emerging Leader!

Die Bilanz von EdeYouth liest sich wie ein Wunder: Die Queens-Organisation, 2010 als gemeinnuetzige 501(c)(3) gegruendet, betreut Jugendliche von 13 bis 21 Jahren. Das Programm EYP lehrt Finanzwissen, Unternehmertum, Etikette, Berufs- und College-Vorbereitung samt Stipendien und Mentoren. YANA, „You’re Not Alone“, kaempft mit zertifizierten Fachleuten gegen Depression, Trauma, Angst und fuer Selbstwert und Suizidpraevention. Die Berufsausbildung bringt Naehen, Kochen, Tischmanieren und Dekoration – mit Zertifikaten, die in echte Jobs fuehren. Seit der Gruendung: 55 gerettete Leben in den USA, 950 gerettete Leben in Haiti, mehr als 200 Jugendliche in Jobs vermittelt!

Alexander Y.E.S., benannt nach Alexander Hurd, dem Vater der Gruenderin, setzt auf Klasse statt Masse: Sechs Maedchen und Jungen pro Jahr, ein 12-monatiges Intensivprogramm mit Etikette-Training und Seminaren, dazu ein Platz in einem kleinen Betrieb der Gemeinde. Das Ziel klingt bescheiden und ist riesig: die Gemeinschaft 12 Jugendliche auf einmal zu heben, ganz im Geist ihrer Eltern, die immer anderen halfen.

Jetzt heisst es: schnell sein! Die Spende betraegt 200 Dollar pro Gast, der Fruehbucher-Preis von 150 Dollar endete am 9. November. Dafuer gibt es Dinner, Entertainment und Inspiration satt – und das gute Gefuehl, dass jeder Dollar direkt bei der Jugend landet. Reservierung unter www.edeyouth.org, Presseanfragen an communications@edeyouth.org. Great Neck, mach dich bereit: Am 15. November steigt die Gala der Herzen!

Der Autor ist Award Winning Hollywood Managing-Journalist Seine Hoheit und Exzellenz Dr.iur. Mag.iur. PRINZ MARIO-MAX ZU SCHAUMBURG-LIPPE, MAS, LL.M.

Prinz Mario-Max ist der Sohn der hochfürstlichen Würdenträger Seine Hoheit Dr. h. c. Prinz Waldemar zu Schaumburg-Lippe und Ihrer Hoheit Dr. Prinzessin Antonia zu Schaumburg-Lippe. Seine Großmutter ist Ihre Königliche Hoheit Prinzessin Feodora von Dänemark. Die Familie ist die königlich-dänische Nachoder Linie der Prinzen zu Schaumburg-Lippe, die Gründerfamilie von Hamburg, Lübeck und Kiel.

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Also published on:

• News Today World – https://newstodayworld.org/entertainment-news/2026/11/11/prince-mario-max-schaumburg-lippe-elevation-in-great-neck-edeyouth-and-alexander-y-e-s-unveil-full-honoree-roster-for-november-15-benefit-gala/
• Zeitblatt – https://zeitblatt.com/grosse-benefiz-gala-in-great-neck-edeyouth-und-alexander-y-e-s-ehren-elf-vorbilder-und-feiern-16-und-12-jahre-jugendpower/
• NYLA News – https://nylanews.com/edeyouth-gala-great-neck-nyc-youth/
• Schaumburg Post – https://schaumburgpost.com/edeyouth-gala-great-neck-glamour-night/
• Manhattan Mogul – https://manhattanmogul.com/edeyouth-gala-great-neck-business-of-giving/
• Mario-Max Magazine – https://mariomaxmagazine.com/edeyouth-gala-leonards-palazzo-celebration/
• Fashion Weeks – https://fashionweeks.us/edeyouth-gala-dressing-elevation-manners-curriculum-fashion/
• American Pulse Journal – https://americanpulsejournal.com/edeyouth-alexander-yes-gala-queens-etiquette-mentorship-pulse/
• American Morning Herald – https://americanmorningherald.com/morning-brief-edeyouth-gala-great-neck-november-15/
• Billionaire Herald – https://billionaireherald.com/edeyouth-gala-leonards-palazzo-philanthropy-queens-youth/
• Newsy USA – https://newsyusa.com/edeyouth-queens-youth-model-national-gala/
• American Morning Post – https://americanmorningpost.com/edeyouth-alexander-yes-elevation-gala-announced-november-15/
• The American Newsroom – https://theamericannewsroom.com/edeyouth-alexander-yes-elevation-gala-inside/
• Revista Minutos – https://revistaminutos.com/gala-edeyouth-alexander-yes-great-neck-2026/
• Le Miroir Français – https://lemiroirfrancais.com/gala-edeyouth-alexander-yes-great-neck-2026-fr/