The weather was gorgeous and the venue spectacular as supporters of The Arc of Indian River County gathered at Rock City Gardens last Thursday evening for the third annual Starlight and Sneakers Garden Party to make a difference in the lives of individuals with special needs.
Guests relished the chance to don comfy footwear and, with showy sneakers the name of the game, the variety of colorful tennies was impressive, including the sparkly gold sneakers of Mary Ellen Replogle, who founded the local organization in 1975. Brenda Bradley went all-out creative with mouse sneakers, complete with ears and a tail and googly pompom eyes with luscious lashes. Explaining the puffs of cotton surrounding the sneakers she and husband Walter wore, Lalita Janke laughed, “He’s just walking on clouds; I’m on cloud nine.”
The relaxed crowd enjoyed cocktails on the grass and walkways overlooking one of Rock City’s stunning ponds and music by the fabulous Gypsy Lane Band before dining under a tent on a delicious buffet catered by Elizabeth Kennedy.
“It’s so wonderful; they have so many great classes,” said Marie Berg, commenting on The Arc’s wide variety of programs and classes. Berg said her daughter Christy, a client at The Arc, has a job cleaning at one of the local schools and also receives wages working on the oyster mat project to restore the lagoon.
Christy was also a member of The Arc Chorus, which gave a rousing performance, singing a spirited rendition of “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” and “Good Day Sunshine,” choreographed with enthusiastic hand gestures, air guitars and sign language.
Justin Isaac, an advocate for The Arc and a student at University of Central Florida, spoke movingly about his remarkable young life, dedicating his talk to the late Dick Pippert, who he said joined him on stage last year and this year in spirit. One of a set of triplets, Justin was born with Down syndrome and pulmonary hypertension and wasn’t expected to live more than a year, but kept defying the odds.
“I have had to fight and struggle my whole life to overcome obstacles, and now I will begin the biggest struggle of my life,” said Isaac. “Just to live my dream I am going to have to beat the odds again, because our society doesn’t value me. People look at me and see a disability, not abilities. Just because I look different and speak differently, a little slower, doesn’t mean that I don’t have hope and dreams. We are all human beings who deserve a chance to lead meaningful lives.”
Before the Paddle Raise, he stressed how grateful they are for the contributions which enable their dreams to come true, adding, “So please give with your heart so that The Arc can continue to help those with special needs to lead meaningful lives with independence, employment, love, friendship and dignity. Thanks again from the bottom of our hearts.”
Executive Director Chuck Bradley noted that their agency has experienced a 50 percent cut in state funding over the past few years, adding “every year, our agency has to raise over $200,000 just to keep the doors open.”
The Arc provides programs and services to roughly 200 special-needs individuals affected by intellectual, developmental, emotional or traumatic brain disabilities, including supervised residential group homes, adult day training, behavioral services, supported employment, supported living, transportation and youth outreach.
