9th Annual After d’Arc Gala “Achieving Sixty Years”

From The Arc Nothern Chesapeake Region:

More than 300 people attended the 9th Annual After d’Arc Gala on Saturday, March 23, 2013. This event to benefit The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region was held at Maryland Golf & Country Clubs in Bel Air and featured Kristy Breslin of WJZ-TV as emcee. The display of vintage cars and overall theme took us back to 1953, the year The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region was founded. A video commemorating the 60th Anniversary was created by Tim Reca,Video Accord and included a voice over by Lindy Ford. The video touched the hearts of all attendees as it shared the dreams of our founding families and highlighted the achievements made over the past 60 years.

The local business community provided key support for this event. Glenn and Sylvia Arrington of Group Benefit Strategies, LLC in Bel Air served as Event Chairs for this year’s event. Rhoula Monios of Smyth

Jewelers has been involved since the inception of this event and returned as Honorary Co-Chair and a major contributor to the jewelry raffle. Mary Sue Lynch was one lucky woman, as her $100 raffle entry earned her a $5,000 Smyth shopping spree.

The event generated net proceeds in excess of $71,000 to help support adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout Harford and Cecil counties. The Silent Auction was themed and each item was assigned to either How To Marry a Millionaire, All About Him, Home and Garden, or Puttin’ On the Ritz. Attendees bid on more than 80 Silent Auction items. This year’s special appeal held at the event was called “Fund the Need” and assists Arc supported individuals with receiving dental care. Local dentists pledged over $15,000 of dental care. Over $10,750 of Fund the Need donations were raised during the event and will be used to match dentist donations. Dentists who supported this campaign include Dr. Mary Teddy-Wray of Laurel Bush Dentistry, Dr. Andrew Smith of Smith & Co. Dental Practitioners, Dr. Nahid Shahry of General Dentistry of Bel Air, Dr. Daniel McLellan of Blue Sky Dental Care, Dr. Dawn Phillips of Campus Hills Dentistry, Dr. Alexander Pazoki, Dr. Rina Walter of Clearly Dental, and Dr. Tessa Modiri and Dr. Edgar Radjabli of Abingdon Family Dentistry.

Auctioneer Derek Hopkins captured the attention of all attendees as he announced the Live Auction. Items for this year’s Live Auction included: dinner and drink service for ten at Bonefish Grill, Fishing Charter and crab feast for six, Four Grandstand Tickets to the 2013 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, one-week stay in Vasto, Italy, and a Time Flies package which featured helicopter, bi-plane and glider rides as well as a men’s luxury watch. The most popular item on the live auction block was a Ray Lewis autographed Super Bowl Football. The bidding war for this item was so intense that Smyth Jewelers generously donated an additional Ray Lewis signed ball for the second highest bidder.

Thank you to our sponsors: Group Benefit Strategies, Aberdeen Rotary, Jones Junction Toyota, Harford Mutual Insurance, SAIC, Plaza Ford, CNA, M&T Bank, Morris & Ritchie Associates, Maryland Spine Institute, Whiteford Pharmacy, Advance, Wegmans, Alpha Graphics, Rosedale Federal Savings and Loan, Freedom Federal Credit Union, Mr. & Mrs. George Kyle, Thompson Automotive Group, What’s Your Story?, Shaffer, McLauchlin & Stover, LLC, Adams Jeep of Maryland, Gray Insurance, Evans Funeral Home, ActionCOACH of Harford County, Absolute Investigative Services, Stewart Companies, APGFCU, Henninger & Henninger, LLC, Mutual of America, Joppa Road Pharmacy, Acadia Windows, Dennis F. Metz, Manekin and Bel Air Auto Body.

We also extend our gratitude to all in-kind donors: ShutterBooth of Maryland, Ken Moss of Kingdom PhotoBooth, Flavor Cupcakery, Richardson’s Florist, Brian’s Carpet, Amanda Ritchey Bridal Beauty, PF Changs, Master Graphics, Inc., Video Accord, Sign Central, Nikki’s Balloons, and Cheveux Salon.

A special thank you to our 2013 After d’Arc Committee Members: Glenn Arrington, Sylvia Arrington, Melody Bennett, Kristy Breslin, Julie Chmura, Mark Dardozzi, Patty Desiderio, Linda Flint, Kelly Jester, Jim Keefe, Valerie Keys, Sue Manning, Debbie May, Meggin M’Gonigle-Reeder, Carole Novak, Sean Parks, Patrice Ricciardi, Diane Sengstacke, Debi Williams and Kimberly Zavrotny.

The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region offers a wide variety of services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, both children and adults, in Harford and Cecil counties, to make informed choices with their lifestyles, vocations, education and recreational pursuits, and to assure stable and nurturing lives among their families and friends.