4-H formal lights up Atlantic Highlands MELISSA L. GAFFNEY, Staff Writer, The Courier, April 24 Posted:04/26/08
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The 4-H Kids for Kids Club celebrated 25 years of “lighting up lives” at its annual Spring Formal on Friday, April 18 in Atlantic Highlands.
The Shore Casino hosted the “You Light Up My Life” dance, organized and attended by both the 4-H Kids for Kids Club and The Arc of Monmouth.
Recreation Director for The Arc Cindy Wiegers said the spring formal is the highlight of its attendees’ year. “They start talking about the next one as soon as they leave that night,” she said.
Wiegers said The Arc works in conjunction with 4-H to raise money, decorate, provide volunteers and supervise the event. “We have spent at least four months preparing for tonight,” she said.
4-H Adult Leader Dotty Eberhardt said the dance is a family affair. “Members hear about us through word of mouth or from family members being involved,” she said.
Wiegers said members consist of mostly eighth- and ninth-graders from Middletown.
“We are one of the few 4-H clubs that is not involved with animals,” Eberhardt said.
She went on to explain how the Kids for Kids Club members blow up balloons, make corsages and volunteer at the dance.
“Of all the students in the club, we attract many from the Bayshore area,” 4-H Supervisor of the Monmouth County Program Ellen Williams said.
Williams described the club as an international youth development program.
“We offer experiential learning opportunities and promote life skills,” she said. “Our main focus in Monmouth County is working with The Arc and fund-raising for special needs adults.”
Williams also said 4-H has a unique sensitivity to special needs adults. “This dance is one of their first social events,” she explained. “Their families are very grateful to 4-H for exposing them to things like this.”
Originally held in Freehold, Wiegers said the highest number of attendees ever was about 350. Eberhardt said the event moved to Atlantic Highlands 20 years ago.
“We changed the dance’s format, limiting attendees to coming every other year,” Wiegers said. “We accommodate 200 people each year. Over the course of two years, we will see 400 guests with special needs attend the formal.”
Wiegers said The Arc has facilities throughout Monmouth County. 4-H has corporate extensions across the country, Eberhardt added.
“4-H is sponsored locally by the Monmouth County freeholders and Rutgers University,” she said. “My group has meetings at the All-Saints Memorial Episcopal Church in Navesink.”
Where 4-H is centralized on a local basis, Wiegers said The Arc sends out about 1,300 newsletters. “The agency itself serves about 1,100 families in Monmouth County,” she added.
Executive Director of The Arc of Monmouth Mary Scott attended “You Light Up My Life” for the first time this year. “This is my first time in 25 years,” she said. “It is very special. Many people here have been involved from the beginning.”
Scott said she has dedicated her career to helping those with special needs. “My entire career is dedicated to working with people with disabilities,” she said. “It’s amazing to see this event celebrating a quarter century of giving.”
For more information on The Arc of Monmouth, visit: www.arcofmonmouth.org. For more information on the 4-H Club, visit: www.4-h.org.
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