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Butterfly Ball a Grand Gala

The Venture Family turned out in their most opulent finery on Saturday May 5, for the Butterfly Ball. A gala celebration, the event marks the accomplishments of the Camp Venture residence family for the past year. This year’s party was the 20th Annual Butterfly Ball.

A very affable band of recreation staff greeted party-goers as they arrived at the Colonial Inn in Norwood New Jersey in grand style. A midday affair, the excitement and glamor of this event was only enhanced by the near perfect weather of this early May afternoon.

The grand ball room filled quickly as guests arrived amid the din of warm conversation. And, though the tables were mostly arranged by their respective residence, there was plenty of mingling and, indeed, no shortage of cross conversation.

There were any number of suave cavaliers among the Venture group as the likes of Peter, Gary, Andy and Emerson worked the room. An equally charming and quite lovely bevy of ladies brightened the hall as Trisha, Jen, Sandy, Angel and all, sparkled in their party gowns and warmed the room with bright smiles and coy glances.

It was all so nice until D.J. John turned up the volume and got the place rocking with some foot-stomping party music. And then, everybody was on the dance floor moving and shaking and having a wild time.

In a brief program address, Executive Director Dan Lukens spoke to the value of friendship, and to the ties that bind each member of the group as family. He also spoke to pride. “ For each of you this is a day to celebrate what you have accomplished in your own lives but also the value that you have added to the lives around you. It is a day to be proud of yourselves but also one to celebrate the achievements of your friends and comrades in the Venture family,” he said.

Awards were offered and in each case they celebrated something unique in their respective recipient. In announcing each honor a perhaps overly enthusiastic, Dan Lukens lauded each person as a rather flustered looking group of recreation staff struggled to keep up as they worked to hand the right award to the right person.

And then, it was back to music and dancing and what a day it was for a party! The place shook as the joy and merriment flowed through the room like a river. It was another year and another party and yet it was the best ever. It was a fun family day in the best traditions of Camp Venture.

Much thanks to Terry Freson and her staff for a great event and especially to the Venture Foundation for helping to make it possible.