Family & Children’s Service Gala

Long Branch, NJ, Aug. 18, 2016 – FCS (Family & Children’s Service), Monmouth County’s oldest, private, nonprofit social service agency

Caption Members of the FCS Leading Lights Gala Committee

is proud to honor former FCS Board chair Mary Ann McDonald and long-time community partners Bruce Thompson and Thompson Memorial Home, and Gloria Nilson at its 2016 Leading Lights Gala, Saturday, October 29th at Navesink Country Club in Middletown, NJ.  The Leading Lights Gala, named for the beacons used in navigation to indicate safe passage for vessels entering shallow or dangerous waters, is the agency’s largest annual fundraising event. Money raised helps support essential FCS programs and services, including adult protective services, home care, homeless prevention services and literacy and nutrition programs for children in underserved communities.

“Much like Leading Lights, FCS helps the most vulnerable in our community navigate daily challenges and live their lives safely with as much dignity and independence as possible,” says FCS CEO Delly Beekman. “Similarly, the individuals we are honoring this year are also Leading Lights in the community. They have been instrumental in advancing the agency’s Mission and Vision to provide compassionate care, intervention and education to people during challenging times in their lives. We are proud to recognize them in this way.”

The 2016 Gala committee, led by honorary co-chairs Paul and Judy Stach, has planned an enjoyable evening for all. In addition to dinner and dancing to the music of Tim McCloone and The Shirleys, guests will also enjoy a live and silent auction featuring a variety of donated luxury items, including original oil paintings, fine jewelry, catered dinner parties, tickets to professional sporting and entertainment events and vacation packages.

To receive an invitation to the Leading Lights Gala, contact FCS Director of Development Diane Gribbin at 732-22-9111 ext. 134 or email at dgribbin@fcsmonmouth.org. To learn more about sponsorship, underwriting and ad journal opportunities that help fund the FCS mission and recognize the honorees, please visit the FCS website at www.fcsmonmouth.org or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fcsmonmouth.

About Family & Children’s Service

Family & Children’s Service (FCS) strengthens, protects and preserves the dignity and independence of people in need. With 106 years of history, FCS is the oldest, private nonprofit social service agency in Monmouth County and a leading volunteer organization. Our Mission is to provide compassionate care, intervention and education to support people at challenging times in their lives. We accomplish this through more than a dozen programs focused on the needs of multiple at-risk populations,

including: Adult Protective Services; Jersey Assistance for Community Caregivers (JACC); Healthy Buddies, an intergenerational childhood obesity prevention program; Home Care Services and Homecare Grant Assistance; Medicare Application Assistance Program (MAAP); Operation Sleighbells, a holiday giving program for children; Reading Buddies; an in-school childhood literacy program; Representative Payee, a financial management program for the mentally, developmental and physically disabled; Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP); Statewide Respite Care, State Health Insurance Program (SHIP), a Medicare counseling service; Telephone Reassurance and the Thrift Boutique. Learn more at www.fcsmonmouth.org.