Ryan's Quest took a step back in time to the Roaring Twenties while celebrating accomplishments throughout the organization and Duchenne community, and also giving a party for all of those who help raise awareness and roar for a cure!
Upon entering the Westin Princeton, guests dressed in an array of fringe, fun feathered headbands, boas, suspenders, and bow ties were greeted with pink champagne, passed hors d'oeuvres, ice luges, contests, and a silent auction that consisted of prizes from South African Safari stays to once-in-a life time experiences on field with the NY Yankees!
After cocktail hour, when the reception doors opened, a 16 piece orchestra was blaring "Sing Sing Sing"as twenty showgirls from Stewart Johnson Dance Academy lined the floor posed as shiny mannequins. They then got the party started with their well-choreographed routine to Christina Aguilera's 'Burlesque' as they danced on chairs and brought the house down!
Next up was an introduction by John Crowley of 'Extraordinary Measures'. Once he introduced Dave Schultz, Ryan's father, Dave awarded Giants great Jessie Armstead and Antonio Pierce with the 2013 Ryan's Quest Hero Award for their commitment to helping Ryan's Quest and being such great advocators. Jessie happily accepted for he and Antonio (who was unable to attend last minute due to inclimate weather). A trailer then played on the screens for 'Darius Goes West'. And, amazingly so, Darius Weems himself and director Logan Smalley were in attendance to accept the next set of 2013 Ryan's Quest Hero Awards. The crowd jumped to a standing ovation as Darius who suffers from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and lost his brother from this awful disease, proudly accepted. Maria Schultz, Ryan's mother then spoke and discussed the importance of time and how boys like Ryan and Darius need more of it!
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| Darius Weems and Logan Smalley with family and friends |
Decor for the evening was made of up-cycled materials in an effort to go green by In Full Bloom. Some of this decor consisted of a huge backdrop of handmade flowers created simply from paper. Corey Fyffe also lent a hand to some beautiful stationary such as menus and table numbers. Music from the evening was fitting to the theme with the Midnight Sun Orchestra, but the party also took a modern twist as DJs Gregg Hollman and DJ Spinz of Ambient DJ got the floor packed with their beats! Brian Dzbenski from Master Disc Jockeys even took a turn leading the crowd with some moves while playing live footage on the big screens. A land/sea duet was served and then a huge couture cupcake display created by Cake it Up sat above and below The Linen Touch's silver sequined linens and silver shimmery shimilier where over 700 hundred "Cuptails" (cocktail-inspired cupcakes) were a welcomed dessert! Bakers who donated delicious treats were Sibling Rivalry Sweets, Dillicious Cupcakes, Sue's Sweets, Chocolate in the Oven, Coco's Cakery, Dana's Custom Cakes, Puddin's Cake Corner, Stace of Cakes, Lynn VanCamp-Crutchley, Randi Sabine, Nino's Pastry Shop, Treats from Chrissy's Kitchen, and Terri Kent. A SnapShotz Photo Booth was jammed at most times full of friends smiling knowing that they were at an event that was not only fun, but also was for a cause!
The event that was sponsored by First Choice Bank went on until midnight with dancing, champagne-to-go, more dancing, and prizes! A 14 Karat Diamond Heart Necklace donated by Trent Jewelers was given to one lucky winner while His and Hers Movado watches also donated by Trent Jewelers were given to another. Forty other recipients who took a chance at winning something shiny or sweet took home diamond necklaces, again donated by Trent Jewelers.
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| Heather Sconza, Owner of All The Rave Events by Heather |
This was an event that was a pleasure to watch come to life and is something I believe that Jay Gatsby would be proud of! Most importantly though - it was a success for Ryan's Quest which in turn is a success for the Duchenne Alliance which in turn is a success for the Duchenne community which will hopefully mean we are successful in buying time while finding a cure!
Maria Schultz quoted Art Buchwald saying "Whether it's the best of times or the worst of times, it's the only time we've got". This is where we need to realize that if we don't take this time now to celebrate each day we have and work tirelessly for a cure, we will be wasting what is precious - time.
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| Jessie Armstead and Dave Schultz
Thankfully, Erica Haller Photography captured tons of great pictures from the evening which can be viewed here: ericahallerphoto.keepandshare.com
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To learn more about Ryan's Quest and to view the public service announcement, please visit www.ryansquest.org
