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Bernard Adams’ charity was scheduled to have a gala on Thursday — with tickets going for up to $11,000, and a promise that Bernard’s brother, Mayor Eric Adams, would give a speech.
But the event was canceled, and some guests groused that the charity did not notify them — or offer a refund — while the organization insists it properly got the word out.
There’s still info on the event — including an option to purchase tickets — on the Angels Helpers charity site, which has been updated to say, “Due to unforeseen circumstances, our upcoming charity event has been postponed. Please stay tuned for updates on the rescheduled date — thank you for your continued support!”
The organization was co-founded by Bernard Adams with Alisa Roever, and the site promises an “Evening of Elegance and Impact,” with “dinner prepared by renowned chefs,” and “Inspirational Speeches.”
“Be moved by the impactful words of: Eric Adams, Mayor of New York City,” the site said before the event was postponed.
A rep for Mayor Adams tells us, however, “The Mayor went to the Al Smith Dinner and was always scheduled to go to the Al Smith Dinner,” which was held the same night, Oct. 17.
A source tells us one ticket buyer learned the gala was canceled the day of the event, after they flew into town.
Another source tells us at least one guest showed up in black-tie to the Upper East Side’s Harmonie Club, where the event was supposed to take place — only to be told that organizers canceled the venue three weeks go.
Angels Helpers insisted in a statement: “Not sure why people showed at Harmony [sic] club. The location was changed 2 months ago. Event was postponed few weeks. People were giving choice to get refund or hold seats for next event.”
Roever tells us they had poor tickets sales, and that close friends who bought tickets were notified via WhatsApp of the cancelation.
The org also said, “The web site always had the new updated location address, and [a] new day will be updated as soon as it is confirmed.” (The site currently has no location or new date for the postponed event.)
Angelo R. Bisceglie, Jr., the charity’s lawyer tells us: “Everyone has been refunded.”
“My understanding is we called all the prospective guests and told them they would be absolutely entitled to a refund,” he told us. “They went far beyond an email and called would-be attendees and advised them the event was cancelled. Many were good acquaintances of our board members so I am pretty confident that most, if not all, were notified.”
As for the site, we’re told it’s run by volunteers. “It’s an administrative glitch and will be taken care of ASAP,” Bisceglie told us.
Roever’s Instagram feed did not reflect the cancelation, but she did post an updated invite two weeks ago with a new address, 7 West 51st St.
On Wednesday night, the evening before the event was initially scheduled, Roever was posting pictures from a celebration with Mayor Adams at Gracie Mansion for Italian heritage month.
On the night the event had been scheduled, she was in pics at the DKMS gala downtown at Cipriani Wall Street.
Mayor Adams frequently shows up on her Instagram feed, and she has previously spent time at Gracie Mansion, according to social media.
A big New York Times spread previously announced the news of Bernard’s philanthropy — and noted he planned its first gala at Eric’s favorite restaurant, Osteria La Baia.
They reportedly then switched to 432 Park Avenue, selling tickets for $500 to $1,000 before canceling it “citing scheduling issues with some of the children who were supposed to perform.”
Bernard formerly worked as his big brother’s head of security, which caused claims of nepotism and raised ethical questions, leading the city’s Conflicts of Interest Board to order he only be compensated $1 a year for the gig that would’ve normally paid $210,000 annually.
(Eric had initially tapped him to be the deputy police commissioner handling governmental affairs after his 2021 victory, but the Conflicts of Interest Board’s probe led to a more scaled-down advisory role.)
He stepped down from the gig in February 2023, and in March 2024 incorporated the charity.
The Angels Helpers site states it’s “a charitable organization dedicated to providing New York City’s youth with access to arts and culture.”
The charity held an event in August in the Hamptons. The Post reported at the time that one bidder paid $3,500 to have dinner with Mayor Adams during an auction, raising eyebrows.
At the time, the non-profit said it would be “pulling the prize when The Post asked about it.”
A City Hall spokesperson added that the mayor “was never asked about, never agreed to, and will not be participating in this dinner that was auctioned off without his permission.”
“If not already done, we expect the charity to immediately rectify the situation and fully refund the individual who made the bid,” the rep said at the time.
Mayor Adams was promoted as an attendee to that event, but was not there.
However, the charity also held an event at the Harmonie Club in May that was attended by Hizzoner.
It raised $200,000 to support Harlem School of the Arts and Highbridge Voices, the org said.
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