A Celebration of Life, Love, and Remembrance in Emerald City: An Inside Look into the

BY HANA VOZZO

The Frances Foundation hosted its 19th annual gala, “A Night in Emerald City,” at the Ocean Place Resort on October 21, 2023 - attended by nearly 900 supporters.. The f estivities started at 6:30 pm and ended at 12:00 am, followed by a pizza afterparty lasting until about 3 am. Guests w ere dressed to the nines in Wizard of Oz-themed attire accented by radiant smiles and lively spirits as they enjoyed a night of dancing, music, food, and festivity to honor the bravery and resilience of the Frances Family’s warriors an d angels.

Founder Robert Heugle noted that

“the night was outstanding in so many respects,” starting with a cocktail hour, where mingling guests were encouraged to purchase raffle tickets and view the variety of gift baskets provided for the winners. The guests then transitioned into the main room where they were served dinner as the presentation began. One of the first things they did o nce everyone was settled into their seats was play “Home,” by Phillip Phillips. Guests were urged to hold up their p hone flashlights and wave them to the beat of the song. The sea of lights was an ethereal representation of the power of the Frances Family and their desire to shine a light on the strength of the warriors, angels, and their families. After the song, Robert gave a magnificent s peech, which was followed by an invocation from Deacon Tom DiCanio.

S ome highlights of the night included the rainbow of joy that appeared w hen Warrior McKenzy Hupke, who has battled through over 50 surgeries, sang “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” with her angelic voice resulting in a huge applause. Another incredible moment was when Robert presented Rachel Colby from the Holmdel Kiwanis with the S uper Trooper Hero award, which is bestowed to a guest who epitomizes the q ualities of bravery, grit, determination, selflessness, and the ability to smile in the face of adversity. These are characteristics Rachel has embodied throughout her entire life, which were similarly c elebrated ten years ago when Bruce Springsteen gave her a kiss and called her a “super trooper” during her stay at the hospital! Additionally, to show guests the impact of their generosity, the organization presented a video slideshow to e xhibit the Frances Family’s events and memories since the last gala. The foundation also honored the warrior’s siblings b y gifting them with Chick-fil-A gift cards, presented to the kids by Oz characters and the Chick-fil-A mascot cow. Moreover, to everyone’s surprise, there were also gift cards taped under each chair to give back to the wonderful Frances Family whose generous donations m ake the foundation’s efforts possible.

Nevertheless, despite all the fun and festivities, the most important part of the night, the reason why everyone got together, was honoring the warriors and angels. To honor the warriors, cued by a song of their choice, each one came to the stage to say one word that came to mind. They said things like “courage,” “love,” “gratitude,” and “bravery.” Robert explained that the gala’s success is measured by how many smiles they see on the kids’ faces, and those kids absolutely glowed when they came up one by one to say a word into the microphone. To celebrate and remember the legacy of the Frances angels, they played a v ideo slideshow, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house as the angel’s families were assured that their precious children would never be forgotten. During these two ceremonies, the love and support in the room were never more palpable. After these moments of remembrance and honoring, the dancing commenced, and, looking around the room almost every chair was empty because everyone was on the dance floor celebrating.

T he gala was a great success as New Jersey Senator Vin Gopal honored the Frances Foundation with a Senate Proclamation from the N.J. State Senate to commemorate the foundation for t he work it does for pediatric cancer. The event raised $185,000, 100% of the proceeds going to pediatric cancer kids and their families. Nonetheless, more important than the money was that the night was an unforgettable celebration of life, love, and remembrance. The gala’s Wizard of Oz theme was quite fitting as the movie showcases the brains, c ourage, and heart that Dorothy needs to complete her journey to Oz. The warriors and angels were honored for the very same qualities as they embody them to fight cancer alongside the rest of the Frances Family. For more information about The Frances Foundation, v isit francesfoundation.net.