Billy Baldwin with his mother Carol M. Baldwin. (Douglas Harrington)

Riverhead - As the Hamptons is the prime destination for charitable fundraisers all summer, one of the most unique venues for events of any kind can be found slightly up-island at the Long Island Aquarium & Exhibition Center (LIAEC) in Riverhead. A fact not lost on the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund, where sharks and sting rays mingled with supporters, including a pair of the famous Baldwin brothers.

The First Annual Pink Penguin Bash was a Caribbean themed event in support of the fund which was established in 1996 by the Baldwin family to raise funds for the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Center at SUNY Stony Brook. All monies raised by the fund go to support research at both Stony Brook University Hospital and at Syracuse University in an effort to find a cure for this devastating disease. To date, the fund has raised over $5 million.

The fund has always been a family endeavor from the start and two of the Baldwin boys were on hand in support. In attendance along with their mother Carol M. Baldwin, actors Billy Baldwin and Steven Baldwin were more than happy to mingle with guests and pose for photos in the unique aquatic atmosphere that is the LIAEC.



Commenting on the LIAEC and the turnout Billy said, "It is an inaugural event, we have never been at this venue before. It is very cool, very generous of the owners to provide this for us and to underwrite and support us the way they have. I think we have about 500 people here, maybe next year we will have a 1,000."

Along with fabulous food, cocktails, dancing and some very animated parrots on display, guests were treated to performances by Lita Ford and Randy Jackson in the outdoor aquatic amphitheater. The benefit also featured a fundraising casino room. The evening's Master of Ceremonies was WBAB radio personality Finger.

The First Annual Pink Penguin Bash was certainly a huge success in support of a very worthy cause, a cure for breast cancer. It was an evening of grassroots charity in response to a disease that has probably touched each one us by way of a wife, mother, daughter, sister or friend.