At its summer benefit on Sunday at Moby’s restaurant on Pantigo Road, Project Most will honor the late Joe O’Connell, an early supporter whose donation helped the nonprofit launch its after-school program at the Springs School 20 years ago.
Founded in 2001, Project Most offers after-school programs at Springs and the John M. Marshall Elementary School as well as weekend and summer enrichment for kids in East Hampton, and child care for children as young as 6 weeks old at the Montauk Playhouse. Sixty-five percent of children receive scholarships for its programs.
After retiring from a career in education, Dr. O’Connell became a founding member of the East Hampton Youth Alliance, helping raise money to build the Y.M.C.A. East Hampton RECenter and serving as its director of operations on its board of managers. He also founded the East End Initiative to provide grants to teachers and scholarships and financial assistance to students in need.
His wife, Sue, and daughter, Kathleen, will represent the family at Sunday’s fund-raiser, which runs from 4 to 6 p.m. It will feature cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction, and music by the Bill O’Connell Jazz Trio. Tickets cost $150 per person or $250 for a couple and can be purchased at trellis.org/most2026.