Storm
rising above the
Acts of caring and
kindness during the Blizzard of 2016
TheWildwoods,NJ
The biggest problem facing the South Jersey Shore during the “Blizzard of 2016” wasn’t necessarily the massive snowfall totals that other parts of the region were receiving; rather it was high winds and coastal flooding from the ocean and bay. While the tourism side of the island was spared the worst of the storm’s wrath, the residential side was harder hit.
“I was embedded with the Wildwood Fire Department and we conducted more than 40 high water rescues along with tend- ing to other issues that come along with a storm like this... What was shown on TV and what really happened were two different things,” said John Lynch, director of sales and enter- tainment for the Wildwoods Convention Center in Wildwood, NJ. “Our west side, which is residential, got slammed, while our east side, where the convention center and hotels are were fine.”
The storm kicked into high gear on Saturday, January 23, 2016 and lasted all day and through the night. Lynch said that by 11:00 am the next day, he was at the Wildwood Sign on the boardwalk shooting a video telling clients of a wrestling event scheduled for February 5-8, 2016 that the boardwalk, beach and convention center were just fine and that the storm hadn’t impacted the center’s ability to conduct business as usual.
The client took the video Lynch had recorded and posted it to their website so that attendees and their families would be relieved to know the Wildwoods were doing well and were open for business immediately following the storm.
Lynch also had recorded one of the water rescues he was involved with, and the footage was picked up by 20 NBC news stations. It also was broadcast on both The Today Show and on NBC’s Nightly News telecasts.
Garces Events atThe Academy of Music in Philadelphia, PA
The Academy of Music Concert and Ball raises money for both Academy of Music and Philadelphia Orchestra programs and operations. This year, the 159th annual installment of the ball and concert had been scheduled to take place on January 23, 2016, but nearly two-feet of snow fell on the city and forced its cancellation.
Hors d’oeuvres and dinner for the evening were planned and prepared by Garces Events under the direction of Chef Adam DeLosso and his staff. The event was expected to include approximately 800 guests, so food and other goods were brought in on Friday to prepare in advance of the predicted storm.
“First and foremost, our concern was always for the safety of our staff, which was comprised of about 40 people - front and back of house, as well as management personnel. We were prepared to make arrangements for them to stay at a hotel downtown, though it turned out not to be neces- sary,” noted DeLosso.
As of Friday, January 22, 2016, the was event still on, so DeLosso and his team went through the process of setting up the kitchen and food stations that were to be used as part of the dinner the next evening. Deliveries had already been made to the hotel in preparation for the ball and con- cert, too, including produce, bread, meat and dry goods.
So, after all of this prep and with so much food on hand, to have the event cancelled was a huge disappointment. But DeLosso had an idea on how to turn that disappointment into a wonderful opportunity – by helping those in need and giving back to the local community.
Across the street from The Academy of Music is Broad Street Ministry (BSM). DeLosso, together with Steven Seibel, executive chef for the ministry, transported nearly all of the food from the event, donating it to BSM to provide delicious meals for those in need.
“We did it because it was the right thing to do,” stated DeLosso. “We did it for the people in need, and the ministry was very appreciative; but we also did it for our staff, so they could see that all their efforts and hard work still went toward a great and worthy cause.”
Garces Events at the Kimmel Center and Academy of Music had already been building a relationship with BSM, as DeLosso and his staff have arranged times and days in the past where they donated services and fed up to 400 people. This gesture of kindness and generosity only further solidified this relationship and helped turn a cold winter day into a warm and wonderful experience.
Mid-Atlantic EVENTS Magazine 71
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