The Arc of Monmouth 50th Anniversary Winter Glow Ball

On December 2, 2016, over 200 attendees enjoyed the 50th Anniversary Winter Glow Ball – A Holiday in Monte Carlo, at Eagle Oaks Golf & Country Club. The milestone event paid tribute to the many volunteers, donors and corporate partners who have supported the Winter Glow Ball, and The Arc of Monmouth, for the past five decades. Guests included past honorees John Lloyd, co-CEO of Hackensack Meridian, and Tom Hayes, director of customer and community relations for New Jersey Natural Gas; Freeholder Serena DiMaso; Rachel Weiss, The Arc of Monmouth’s board president, as well as participants from the agency’s many programs. An estimated $200,000 was raised to benefit 1,600 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in Monmouth County.

In 1966, the Countess Anatole Buxhoeveden organized the first Winter Glow Ball to benefit children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Monmouth County. This year’s Winter Glow Ball marked its 50th

anniversary, with “A Holiday in Monte Carlo,” a favorite destination of the countess and her family. Holly Annarella Flego, Winter Glow Ball chair and event emcee, is a longtime supporter of The Arc of Monmouth. The agency has been part of her family for many years, with her sister Sherry enjoying recreation services and mother Beverly Annarella chairing the event many years ago. Flego leads the Tuesday Group Committee, a group of 19 other dedicated and passionate philanthropists that has contributed to the success of this event for many years.

Throughout its fifty-year history, only five women have chaired the event after the countess, including Holly’s mother Beverly Annarella, Sheila McLoone, Vicki DeNoia, and Anita Roselle, who guided the Winter Glow Ball for a record 25 years. Colleen Ciecura, a longtime participant of The Arc, delivered the night’s keynote speech to a standing ovation. Ciecura spoke of the obstacles she has faced as a woman with a disability, and how The Arc of Monmouth gave her the opportunities to grow and become the confident person she is today. Her message of hope resonated with all of the event guests. A highlight of the evening was the annual “Call for Pledges,” as professional auctioneer Nick Dawes, of Antiques Roadshow, spoke of the critical need for vans for agency. As pledges came in, donor Vincent Puma offered to match individual pledges made toward a new van, and the Anabel Foundation pledged to finalize the purchase.

This year’s silent auction went mobile with eBoost events. Guests, either at the event or remotely, bid on almost 100 incredible silent auction items. The exciting live auction was led by Nick Dawes, Antique Roadshow, whose skills brought in $17,000 for The Arc of Monmouth.