GRACE in Wonderland raised more than $191,000 to ensure happiness, health and security for all of our neighbors in need.

GRACE Giving & Receiving Assistance for our Community’s Essentials

All photos used with permission. Fisk Foto LLC @FiskFoto27 and bgotoff_photography

Step through the looking glass and believe six impossible things before breakfast. Have a slice of unbirthday cake and your dreams will grow. Drink from the “Drink Me” bottles from Summit House, and our community’s problems will shrink. GRACE in Wonderland was a success as our community raised more than $191,000 to ensure happiness, health and security for all of our neighbors in need.

There were delights for all the senses as we stepped through the looking glass and into the world of wonder, helping GRACE empower our community to thrive. More than 200 friends, neighbors, sponsors and partners followed the white rabbit through GRACE in Wonderland at The Albion Summit on April 25th. Members of the community gathered to celebrate our successes, while honoring Liz Newell and Central Presbyterian Church’s Lena Willis Fund for their unwavering support of GRACE since its inception in 2016.

In community our problems shrink, and we grow the possibility of building a place where everyone can thrive. We connected, we rejoiced together with the music of The Brynn Stanley Band, and we gathered the life-changing support our community needs to succeed. Delighted by fresh spring blossoms and inspiring floral designs that intrigued and inspired, Polycarp Flowers transformed the space. While guests enjoyed cocktails in the “garden”, a toast opened up the surprises that made the night magical, with Summit dancers opening the curtains to Dragonfly Productions, presenting stilt walkers, a Mad Hatter full of magic tricks, a unicyclist and a juggler.

Honoree, Liz Newell shared “I’m thrilled to live in a city that I absolutely love. Everything I do for the city is in memory of my mom, Barbara. We can make this world a better place by being in service, and volunteering is key! GRACE couldn’t exist without our volunteers and local businesses. Thank you to Central Presbyterian Church, Kevin Hill, and to all our volunteers.”

Impactful fundraising events take time and dedication to build. Ellen de Havilland, Development Director for GRACE shared gratitude for the invitation committee and volunteers that made this event possible. “If we listen in and look around, we find magic in each moment. This magic took hundreds of hours of volunteers working together, going down the rabbit hole and dreaming of hidden moments of surprise, to make this night a success. In a place like Summit, the possibilities are endless when we act in community, as partners, supporting each other and lifting each other up. With this support GRACE will continue to serve more than 700 families every week with the food, essentials and stabilizing supports they need to thrive.”

About GRACE: Since 2016 GRACE has been Giving & Receiving Assistance for our Community’s Essentials. As a volunteer run 501(c)3 non-profit organization, GRACE meets community demand with community resources. For more information, visit www.gracegivingreceiving.org, or email info@gracegivingreceiving.org.

Every week, the GRACE team comes together to gather the resources and social support to make our Summit community a wonderland. In the past year volunteers contributed 14,000 hours of service, and that includes more than 40 individual volunteers who gave their time every week, to make GRACE happen. Volunteers and partners work together to fulfill every need that exists in our community.

Thanks to the support of our top event sponsors and visionary community leaders: The Albion Summit, MICRO, Polycarp Flowers, SEELAUS, KC & Billy Artemenko, Abby & Avi Horev, Jaclyn Lasaracina & Corey Sanders, and Megan and Todd Myers.

@GRACESummitNJ