We are thrilled to announce that the 2024 Steps to Independence Celebration honoring Dave Gibbons of Elberon Development Group raised over $1.4 million to support our programming for people with disabilities. We are incredibly grateful for the efforts of Dave, Karl and Lucy Dickman, Terry Armstrong, Anne Evans Estabrook, Nandi Holloman, Karen Piccirillo, and the rest of the team at Elberon in supporting the event and making it such a success.
A special thank you to the Steps to Independence Celebration Event Co-Chairs: Ronel Borner of CenterPoint Properties, Clark Machemer of Crow Holdings, Kelly Marx, Jeff Milanaik of Bridge Industrial, Phil Monaco of Peerless Concrete Products Co., Robert Murray of Oline Construction, Barry H. Ostrowsky, and Michael Petillo of Petillo Companies. Their tireless work to support the event each year has brought about meaningful change in the Pillar Care community.
The event’s keynote speaker was Pillar Schools Occupational Therapist Carmen Martinez. Carmen recounted over 30 years of working for Pillar Schools, illustrating how much the school has evolved during this time. During her tenure, the elementary school and high school have gone from sharing a building with our infant services program in East Orange, to a two campus school system located in Livingston. Thank you to Carmen for sharing her story and for her lifelong commitment to supporting children with disabilities.
Thank you as well to Jay Shah, Clark Machemer, and Bob Murray for emceeing the Text for a Cause program at the event, helping to raise $200k at the event alone. Texting for a Cause allows a donor to choose from a number of program initiatives that they can directly support. The projects have an immediate impact, funding projects and equipment like interactive sensory projectors for our day programs.
And of course, thank you to the many generous supporters of the event. We are greatly appreciative of everyone who attended, learned about our programs, and helped spread the word of our mission.
Check out photos from the event on our Facebook page:
Thank you to our $25k+ sponsors:
Alston Construction*
Campbell Foundry Company*
Capitol Supply Construction Products
Carroccia Contractors*
Dan Swayze & Son, Inc.*
Elberon Development Group*
The Marcus Family Foundation
Kelly & Nancy Marx
McCombs Steel
McManus & Associates
Jeff & Judy Milanaik
Peerless Concrete Products Co.
Petillo Companies*
RWJBarnabas Health
Triad Coatings
*Event Sponsor
