Hollywood Glamour, Hometown Impact

There's certainly nothing wrong with getting dressed up, enjoying a great dinner, having a cocktail and spending the evening dancing with friends.

But it's even better when a night out helps strengthen the community around us.

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On Saturday, October 3, The Connection will roll out the red carpet for its annual gala, "A Night of Hollywood Glamour, " from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. at American Beauty Events at the Embassy Suites in Berkeley Heights.

The evening will feature cocktails, dinner, dancing and a silent auction filled with special experiences. But behind all of the Hollywood glamour is something much more important: the opportunity to support an organization whose work touches people throughout our area.

More Than a Fitness Center

If you live in the Summit area, chances are you know The Connection. You may have taken a fitness class there, brought a child for swimming lessons, enrolled someone in camp or simply driven past its longtime home on Maple Street.

But what I think sometimes gets overlooked is just how much The Connection does beyond what we see on the surface.

The nonprofit serves individuals and families throughout Union, Morris and Essex counties, offering childcare, preschool and after-school programs, summer camps, aquatics, fitness and wellness programs, enrichment opportunities and adaptive programs for children with special needs.

And then there are programs like Pathways, which provides support, education and wellness programming for women dealing with cancer.

That is why supporting an event like this has a ripple effect throughout the community.

Opening Doors for More Families

One of the things I love most about strong community organizations is their ability to bring people together who might otherwise never cross paths.

But that only works when people can actually afford to participate.

The Connection's Scholarship Fund provides financial assistance so individuals and families experiencing financial need can still access programs. Assistance can help with everything from aquatics, dance and gymnastics to enrichment programs, summer camp and other opportunities.

Think about what that means beyond the dollars.

It can mean a child gets to go to summer camp with their friends.

It can mean a working parent has access to childcare.

It can mean someone with special needs has a welcoming place to learn, exercise and build confidence.

It can mean someone going through cancer treatment finds support and community at a time when they need both.

Those things don't just benefit one person or one family. They make the entire community stronger.

This Is What Supporting Local Looks Like, Too

I talk a lot about supporting local businesses and obviously, I will never stop beating that drum.

But supporting local also means supporting the organizations that make our towns places where people want to live, raise families, work, volunteer and grow older.

The Connection serves communities including Summit, New Providence, Berkeley Heights, Chatham, Maplewood, Short Hills, Springfield, Mountainside and Long Hill Township.

So when money is raised at this gala, its impact doesn't stay inside one building on Maple Street.

It goes back out into our neighborhoods.

It helps make programs accessible. It supports services that families depend on. It creates opportunities for children and adults who might otherwise have to sit something out.

And sometimes, that's the part of a fundraiser we need to remember.

You're not simply buying a ticket to dinner.

You're helping someone else get a seat at the table.

So Go Ahead…Get Glamorous !

Pull out the cocktail dress. Put on the good suit. Gather a group of friends and enjoy a night out.

Bid on something fun. Have another spin around the dance floor.

Because on October 3, a little Hollywood glamour can do a whole lot of good right here at home.

A Night of Hollywood Glamour

Saturday, October 3, 2026

7:00–11:00 p.m.

American Beauty Events at Embassy Suites

Berkeley Heights, NJ

Proceeds from the gala support The Connection's community service programs and scholarship efforts, helping keep opportunities accessible to people throughout our area.

For additional information about The Connection and its programs, visit The Connection⁠. Gala information and ticketing are available through A Night of Hollywood Glamour Gala⁠.