Funds will assure the continuation of valuable programs and services for local families
The Arc NCR’s “Let’s Get Wild” Gala has been postponed until Friday, June 12, 2020. It will still take place at Water’s Edge from 7-11:30 p.m.
Every year, The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region (The Arc NCR) invites community partners and supporters to unite for its largest and most impactful fundraising event – the After d’Arc Gala, designed to be both inspiring and entertaining. This year’s gala is scheduled for Saturday, April 4, 2020 from 7 -11:30 p.m. at the Water’s Edge Events Center in Belcamp. Presented by Freedom Federal Credit Union, the theme for this year’s festivities is “Let’s Get Wild,” with safari-style cuisine, entertainment and decorations guaranteeing a unique evening of fun for all who attend.
Proceeds from the event’s “Fund the Need” portion of the evening will benefit The Arc NCR’s Family Support Services (FSS) program, which serves as a critically important resource for families in Harford and Cecil County. FSS offers informational workshops and training, referrals and advocacy, with an ultimate goal to give local families, regardless of ability, the resources they need to live, work and thrive over the “arc” of their lifetime.
The Fine family of Harford County can personally attest to the value of those services. For the last 13 years, Lo-An and Stephen Fine have been raising their grandson, a young man who faces a number of developmental challenges. Determined to create a positive pathway for his success, Lo-An and Stephen have tapped into the resources and support offered by FSS, taking advantage of opportunities to learn while also creating meaningful connections with other families who understand their very personal lifestyle challenges, and can empathize with them.
“This is a family that is fully committed to helping their grandson, every step of the way, but who have benefited from supports along the way too,” says Sue Rattman, a family navigator for The Arc NCR. “FSS has been there to educate and support them, giving them guidance as they have faced new challenges, knowledge as they have worked to identify care options and a sense of empowerment as they have made important decisions, all in the best interest of their grandson.”
Important to note is that the services FSS has provided to the Fine family and many others over the years have been available free of charge. It is through the organization’s ongoing fundraising efforts, including the gala to be held in April, that these tremendous resources are offered without causing financial strain for families in need. The fundraising goal for the “Let’s Get Wild” gala is $140,000, and will assure continued support for the Fine family as well as more than 400 other individuals, families and children, in the year to come.
“The Arc’s Family Support Services Program is the ‘missing piece of the puzzle’ for the Fine family and so many others who simply need a place to turn,” says Flossie Rosser, also a family navigator for the organization. “We are extremely proud of our ability to fill that gap and be a safe place people can come for help. That is why our gala is so very important. It raises the funds we need to continue offering these incredible, life-changing programs.”
The “Let’s Get Wild” Gala will begin with an exclusive VIP reception for sponsors, followed by a safari-inspired dinner, silent and live auctions and live entertainment. Recent additions to the gala’s line-up of fun and excitement are the musical stylings of Baltimore-based Mama’s Black Sheep, a soulful collaboration of singer-songwriters Ashland Miller (guitar/vocals) and Laura Cerulli (drums/vocals), as well as a guided bourbon tasting sponsored by Chesapeake Bank of Maryland.
For information on sponsorship opportunities and to purchase tickets, visit www.afterdarc.org. The Arc NCR’s development office is another resource for information, and can be reached at 410-836-7177 or via email at [email protected].
About The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region
For sixty-seven years, The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region has empowered people with differing abilities to live, work and thrive in the community by providing support services and advocacy to adults and children and their families in Harford and Cecil Counties. For more information, call 410-836-7177 or visit www.arcncr.org.
