Friday, November 3, 2023 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Executive Banquet & Conference Center Newark, DE
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Heartfelt thank you to our primary organization sponsor
without whom we could not provide the level of service our children and families need and deserve from us.
Message from our Executive Director Welcome to Music from the Heart. We are honored to have you here as we celebrate this year’s theme: “Our Community of Strength.” All of you in this room tonight, and those who could not make it, are our community, and you make us strong. We cannot do the important work we do without you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for supporting our mission to find safe, loving, and permanent families for waiting children. I encourage you to speak with others here this evening about their connection to our mission. You are here as adoptive and foster parents, adoptees, staff members, board members, and generous supporters. Let’s use tonight to share our stories with each other. Learn about the journey of an adoptive parent or speak to one of our staff members about their passion for this work. We are all here because we have a heart for children and ABC. Sonny Leo, an adoptive parent, former member of our board, and a well-known performer in Delaware and Philadelphia, has taken this theme to heart and once again created a beautiful show for us. We are thrilled to feature youth in our performance again this year – it’s going to be a wonderful evening! Thank you for helping us change the world, one child at a time!
A Better Chance for Our Children is proud to present:
Program of Events 6:00 p.m.
Cocktail Hour
7:00 p.m.
Welcome Remarks
7:10 p.m.
Act I
- Fifteen Minute Intermission Last chance to bid on silent auction items and purchase raffle tickets! 8:00 p.m.
Live Auction
8:15 p.m.
Act II
8:40 p.m.
Silent Auction & Raffle Winners Announced
8:50 p.m.
Closing Remarks
Thank you to our Headliner Sponsor! Headliner Sponsor $5,000 donation
Thank you to our Gold Sponsors! Gold Sponsors $2,500 donation
Robin Duquella
Thank you to our Silver Sponsors! Silver Sponsor $1,000 donation
Chuck & Elsje Bean Lori Captain Dan & Mary Lou Edgar John & Meg Greishaber Heather Holiday & Benjamin Mell Sarah Holliday Jess & Matt Sinarski
Thank you to our Bronze Sponsors! Bronze Sponsors $500 donation
Joseph Edgar & Family
Meg Garey & Mike Karpyn
Brian & Susan Gallagher
Ed & Veronica Gordon
John Milroy
Amy Renwick
Gina & Tyler Robinson
Our Community of Strength 2023 Music from the Heart Donors Adventure Aquarium Anna Maria Studio Bachetti’s Michael & Katie Beyer, Starfish Circle Brandywine Museum of Art Brandywine Prime Basia Bubel & Michael Kimpel Chez Nicole Salon Continental Jewelers Delaware Theatre Company El Diablo Nikki Dubuono David & Jo-Anna Featherman Dieter & Tracy Featherman Maria Finnamore Friendly Gift Shop Joe Gallagher Elizabeth & Mike Garey Go Ape Haldas Meat Market Mary Holland Louis Holveck-Young
Our Community of Strength 2023 Music from the Heart Donors Tracy Ignatieff Laurie Lattomus Richard Lawyer Sonny Leo Longwood Gardens Robert Lynch Mariann Kenville-Moore & Tom Moore Nicole Mozee Glen & Nicole Outten Peco’s Lydia Robb Kristen Roseman Sanctuary Spa William Seyler Siegel JCC Mary Smith Grace Stockley Total Wine & More Ellen Uzelac Bernard VanOgtrop Karin Weining Winterthur
Tonight would not be possible without your support!
Meet the Team Executive Director
Meg Garey, LPCMH Chief Financial Officer
Dan Edgar
Program Supervisor
Cindy Knapp Director of Development
Heather Holiday Administrative Office Manager
Amanda Bright Office Manager
Amberly Gearhart
Child & Family Specialists
Kim Crossley Sharia Greene Candice James-Waples Cindy Klein Tiyona McCollister Amber Patti Venus Smith
Post Permanency Specialists
Yasmine Smith
Celeste Bishop
Pam Starling
Katie Quirico Laurie Lattomus
Licensed Therapists
Amy Morgan, LPCMH, CATP Nikki Outten, LCSW
Need help? Staff members are wearing yellow ribbons on their name tags! Or come say hello and hear about why we are so passionate about our work!
Board of Directors President
Michael Beyer Vice President
S Charles Bean Secretary
Robin Duquella Treasurer
John Grieshaber Daniel P. Edgar Meg Garey Sarah Holliday Mariann Kenville-Moore* Nicole Mozee* Amy Renwick Gina Robinson Grace Stockley Karin Weining*
*Special thanks to the fundraising committee for their help with this event!
Champion for Children Award Presented to
Sue Oldenburg & David Klein
Family Spotlight Meet Dave and Brandon! Dave adopted Brandon 11 years ago when Brandon was 10 years old. As you can see, they love to spend time together, especially at sporting events. Dave and Brandon regularly share their adoption story during panel discussions through ABC because they like to give back to the adoption community. Tonight, you will have the opportunity to hear more of their story.
Meet Our Incredible Cast
Sonny Leo is a native of Wilmington, Delaware, having taught for the Anna Marie Dance Studio for over 35 years. His professional performing credits span over three decades. Although Delaware has been his home, his performing career has taken him throughout our country. His credits include touring with Freda Payne in the Broadway production of Sophisticated Ladies, working with Anthony Newley in the pre- Broadway show Chaplin, and working with many other greats including Maurice Hines and Dee Hoyt. Sonny has also worked with many Philadelphia theaters including the Walnut Street Theatre, the Kimmel Center, Society Hill Playhouse and the Penn’s Landing Theater.
Annetta Baker is in her junior year at Cab Calloway School of the Arts. She is a vocal and theater major, with a concentration in Musical Theater Company. She has been studying Voice under Sonny Leo for 10 years and has taken several years of dance at the Anna Marie Dance Studio. Annetta has performed in many productions at the Delaware Children’s Theater. Her most recent show was Hairspray at Cab Calloway, where she played Penny Lou Pingleton. When she is not performing, Annetta is actively involved in volleyball and helping out with shows/events behind the scenes. Thank you to Sonny for including Annetta in this amazing cause for another year! Tommy Fisher-Klein is a native Delawarean who is currently Academic Advisor with the Assoicate Program, Wilmington Campus at the University of Delaware, where he works with students and assists them with making the best education decision for their future. In his spare time Tommy can be seen on stage or behind the scene, directing or choreographing, at theatre companies within the area.
Cast continued... JoJo Schlecht (she/her) is a 15-year-old singer and performer born and raised in Wilmington, DE currently attending Ursuline Academy. Outside of school, JoJo participates in theatre, plays piano and oboe, and studies vocal performance. Upon taking the Royal Conservatory of Music’s vocal examinations, JoJo received highest honors with distinction. She also competes in the GPNATS (Greater Philadelphia Chapter National Association of Teachers of Singing) competitions where she has placed second in classical singing and first in musical theatre performance. In the theatrical world, she has performed with Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia, Delaware Theatre Company, and the Wilmington Drama League, amongst others. She sends her love and thanks to Sonny and the rest of the team for bringing her along again this year!
Tina Sheing has been performing and directing in the area for The Brandywiners, ATA, Candlelight Dinner Theatre, Mount Pleasant High School and Musical Theatre Factory. A Graduate of The Cabaret Conference at Yale, Tina made her NYC debut singing at Don’t Tell Mama. Tina has performed professionally with the Arden Theatre Company in Philadelphia in Merrily We Roll Along, A Sondheim Celebration, Violet, Sweeney Todd and The Grandfalloon. Other favorite performed roles/ shows have included Rose in Gypsy, Lizzie in Baby, Annelle in Steel Magnolias, Charlotta Champion in Follies, The Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Godspell, Into the Woods, Nuncrackers, and Big River. Her directorial favorites include Jesus Christ Superstar, Seussical, Sweeney Todd, Mame, Tommy, Anything Goes, Godspell, The Wiz and Forum.
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