More than 400 people packed the Picasso Ballroom at Encore Boston Harbor on Wednesday, April 8, to help Northeast Arc celebrate An Evening of Changing Lives. With support from donors and attendees the agency raised more than $550,000 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 Lauren Jones, Massachusetts Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development, Beth Chandler, Executive Director of Point32Health Foundation, and Ann Lagasse, Principal at Ocean Havens. 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 David Andrews tossing footballs to donors in the crowd. View photos from the event here.
During the event, Northeast Arc honored longtime advocates Joan McGrath and Rick Lord with Changing Lives Awards, in recognition of their contributions to the organization.
Jo Ann Simons, President and CEO of Northeast Arc said partners like McGrath and Lord make NeArc’s work possible, “Collaboration with government, business, and community leaders, and with each of you, makes our goals achievable. Our work is more crucial than ever, as we fight to make sure that people of all abilities are included in our communities and have opportunities to thrive.”
Joan McGrath is the CEO of Planned Lifetime Assistance Network of Massachusetts and Rhode Island (PLAN of MA & RI), which has been the exclusive special needs planning partner of Northeast Arc since 2021. PLAN provides special needs trusts that help people with disabilities protect their benefits and live full lives. Over the past 5 years, PLAN has donated more than $500,000 to support NeArc.
“To be recognized by an organization whose mission and impact I admire so greatly means a tremendous amount to me—and to all of us at PLAN,” said McGrath, who highlighted the power of partnering with Northeast Arc. “When organizations like ours work together—when we share a vision that every individual deserves opportunity, independence, and lifelong support—we truly do have the power to change lives.”
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- Joan McGrath and Jo Ann Simons
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- Jo Ann Simons, Rick Lord, and Dennis Leonard
Rick Lord is the Chair of the Northeast Arc Advisory Board and retired CEO of Associated Industries of Massachusetts. Lord has been a long-time champion of NeArc’s supported employment program. Dennis Leonard, retired President and CEO of Delta Dental of Massachusetts presented the Changing Lives Award to Rick Lord.
“I am so proud to be here with all of you tonight and so humbled that you felt me worthy of this very special recognition,” said Rick Lord. “[Northeast Arc is] indeed a precious gift to those individuals and their families. And it has certainly been a delight to meet and get to know some of your amazing staff that make this happen every day!”
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:
- Justin Amoyal, CEO and Co-founder of Impruvon Health, walking with Joey Magazzu, NeArc Resident
- David Andrews, former New England Patriot, walking with Archilles Sanders, Embark Program at Salem State University
- Beth Chandler, Executive Director of Point32Health Foundation, walking with Charlie Toomey, Steps to Independence Participant and Project Perk Graduate
- Renee Connolly, Chief Belonging Officer and SVP of Life Science Communications & Branding for Merck KGaA, walking with Johnny Mont Louis, Steps to Create Artist
- Nicholas D’Onofrio, Director of Boston Children’s Hospital Satellite Business Processes, walking with Pauly Martin, Ne Arc Early Intervention and ABA Services
- Cassie DiOrio, NeArc Parent Advisory Board, walking with Joey DiOrio, NeArc EI Participant
- Heidi Ellard, NeArc Board Chair and Director of Philanthropic Services at Essex County Community Foundation, walking with Ethan Kearney, NeArc Recreation Participant
- Kacy Jauron, Director of the Jauron Family Foundation, walking with Jonathan Derr, Special Olympian
- Lauren Jones, Massachusetts Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development, walking with Matthew Mullaney, NeArc Supported Employment Participant
- Ann Lagasse, Principal at Ocean Havens, walking with Jeremy Brundrett, NeArc Journeys Program Participant
- Matt Maguire, Sales Representative at Hogshead Wine, walking with Ronan Maguire, NeArc Early Intervention Participant
- Lucy MacCallum, New England President at Gallagher, walking with Rachel Perrin, NeArc Journeys Program Participant and Special Olympian
- Laurie McCarty, Dean of the McKeown School of Education at Salem State University, walking with Mia Kruppa, Student in the Community of Inclusive Scholars Program at Salem State and NeArc Recreation Participant
- Miriam Ortiz, Chief Impact Officer at Eastern Bank Foundation, walking with Frank Genovese, NeArc Adult Family Care Participant
- Jim Palleschi, Senior Vice President for HUB International New England, walking with Teresa Bettencourt, NeArc Independent Living Program Resident
- Pat Norton, Director of Facilities at New England BioLabs, walking with Mary Perry, NeArc Clinical Services Patient
Northeast Arc would like to thank its Presenting Sponsors, Encore Boston Harbor and PLAN of MA & RI for their support. Diamond sponsors were New England BioLabs, Quinn Brothers, and Rick Lord. Platinum Sponsors were Janice and Ralph James, Eastern Bank, and OneDigital. Gold Sponsors were Everett Bank, Seyfarth, RoAnn Costin, and Norma and Dennis Leonard. Silver Sponsors were Delta Dental, Goldman Sachs, True Link, and Diane and Michael Christian. Visit ne-arc.org/gala to see all sponsors.