More than 400 people packed the Picasso Ballroom at Encore Boston Harbor on Tuesday, April 8, to help Northeast Arc celebrate An Evening of Changing Lives. With support from donors and attendees the agency raised more than $500,000 to support programs that help people of all abilities live as fully included members of their communities.
The highlight of the evening was an inclusive fashion show where individuals and families supported by Northeast Arc walked the runway with local celebrities, including Jenny Holaday, CEO, Encore Boston Harbor, Sen. Joan Lovely, 2nd Essex District, Paul Sullivan, Vice President of Sullivan Tire, Ann Lagasse, Principal, Ocean Havens, and Robbie Goldstein, Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Public Health. The fashion show highlighted the diversity of services provided by Northeast Arc – supporting people with disabilities and autism from birth through end of life. The fashion show ended with former New England Patriot and two-time Super Bowl Champion Dan Koppen tossing footballs to donors in the crowd.
During the event, Northeast Arc honored longtime advocates Julie Rainer Cummings and Tom Gould with Changing Lives Awards.
Gould is owner of Treadwell’s Ice Cream and has served on the Northeast Arc board of directors since 2018. Gould has supported inclusion through his Challenger Sports program in his hometown of Peabody. The program provides the opportunity for children with intellectual, developmental, or physical abilities to participate in modified sports with their peers.
Ted Bettencourt, Mayor of Peabody, presented Gould with the Changing Lives Award.
Gould reflected on the 30-plus year impact of Challenger Sports.
“We estimate that we have supported over 600 Challenger athletes who have participated in our programs,” said Gould, who was applauded by athletes and families in attendance. “I feel lucky to be in the same room [tonight] with so many generous people.”
Julie Rainer Cummings is owner of Concept Capital, and her family has been involved at Northeast Arc since the agency’s early years. Rainer Cummings’ late sister Lisa Rainer lived in a Northeast Arc residential home for more than 40 years. Rainer Cummings has served on the organization’s board of directors for 19 years, including a term as board chair.
Jo Ann Simons, President and CEO of Northeast Arc, presented the Changing Lives Award to Rainer Cummings.
“Julie has been a fierce sibling advocate, a constant presence and friend to everyone at Lisa’s residential homes, and a dedicated board member of the Northeast Arc for over 20 years,” said Simons. “Julie and her husband Jim Cummings have made NeArc a priority in their giving as well, establishing the Lisa Rainer Enrichment Fund, which supports our staff in so many ways, as well as being members of our 2054 Society.”
In accepting the award, Rainer Cummings spoke about her family’s lifelong connection to the Arc.
“Together as a family, we’ve experienced so much personal growth, this work shaped us all in ways I could have never imagined,” said Rainer Cummings, who also highlighted the role Northeast Arc played in her sister’s life. “The leadership and advocacy of the Arc gave us great faith, knowing that Lisa would always have a beautiful home, meaningful employment, and her social needs met, thanks to the agency’s unwavering support.”
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- Jo Ann Simons, Tom Gould, and Peabody Mayor Ted Bettencourt
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- Jo Ann Simons, left, and Julie Cummings
The evening ended with an inclusive fashion show, highlighting the variety of supports offered by Northeast Arc. The following celebrities and NeArc participants walked the runway during the inclusive fashion show:
- Kate Billingsley, Keri McGloin, and Candace Perrault, Co-founders of Rock the Spectrum, walking with their children Natalie Billingsley, Rosie McGloin, and Charles Perrault
- Mike Christian, Board President of Someone Else’s Child walking with Emelin Alvarado-Ortiz, Pathways to Opportunities ambassador
- Cassie DiOrio, Northeast Arc parent, walking with her son Joey DiOrio, Challenger Baseball and Basketball ambassador
- Louise Dominique, Founder of the Lynn Disability Network, walking with her children Sarina and Nathan Orelus
- Heidi Ellard, Essex County Community Foundation, walking with Ethan Kearney, Special Olympics Athlete
- Robbie Goldstein, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, walking with Allie and Lucy Moldaver, Early Intervention ambassadors
- Jenny Holaday, CEO, Encore Boston Harbor, walking with Samantha Gibbs, TikTok Influencer and Supported Employment ambassador
- Renee Connolly, Millipore Sigma, walking with Maggie King, Clinical Services ambassador
- RoAnn Costin, Wilderness Point Investments, walking with Amaury Mejia, Journeys ambassador
- Caroline Hooper, Bain Capital, walking with Nico Golden, Spotlight ambassador
- Terry Keilty, Special Olympics, walking with Jake Shlopak, Endeavor and Personal Care Management ambassador
- Ann Lagasse, Ocean Havens, walking with Ptah Basden, Adult Family Care ambassador
- Joan Lovely, 2nd Essex District, walking with Davis Raymond, Residential ambassador
- Paul Sullivan, Sullivan Tire, walking with Max Vanderwilden, Recreation ambassador
- Carolina Trujillo, Lynn Affordable Housing Trust Fund, walking with Yonari Ruiz, Pathways to Opportunities ambassador
Northeast Arc would like to thank its Presenting Sponsors, Encore Boston Harbor and PLAN of MA & RI for their support. Engagement Sponsors were the James Family, New England Biolabs and Quinn Brothers Ironworks. Shining Star Sponsors were Julie and Jim Cummings, Eastern Bank Foundation, and OneDigital.Visit ne-arc.org/gala to see all sponsors.