Gala At a Glance

ANNIVERSARY GALA RAISES MORE THAN $130,000

Couple Helps Children and Families in Need by Asking Their Wedding Guests to Support
The Children’s Home Society of New Jersey’s Annual Fundraising Gala

Dr. Christine Côté, chair of the Board of Directors at CHS of NJ,
and her new husband, Hugo Yepez, on the steps of CHS of NJ.

TRENTON, N.J., May 22, 2010 –The Children’s Home Society of New Jersey’s (CHS of NJ) Hopes and Dreams 116th Anniversary Gala Celebration held Saturday, May 22, was a tremendous success, raising more than $130,000, a more than 75 percent increase from 2009.

CHS of NJ saves children’s lives and builds healthy families for more than 36,000 at-risk infants, children and families every year. The Gala proceeds support adoptions, infant foster care, birth parent counseling, child abuse services, school-based services, Kinship services for grandparents raising their grandchildren, Family Success Parent/Child Centers, early child care and parent education, and mental health counseling for children birth to teens and their families.

Contributing to the Gala’s success was a unique offer from Dr. Christine Côté, chair of the Board of Directors at CHS of NJ, and her new husband, Hugo Yepez. They had celebrated their wedding day earlier that Gala afternoon with 120 of their closest friends and family. The couple then bought 12 tables for their wedding guests to attend the Gala. They asked their guests to support our cause with checks in lieu of wedding gifts; they asked their guests to support the Gala auction and raffle. And they did this along with other loyal and passionate CHS of NJ supporters in attendance at the Gala. “Our family and friends were delighted to help us ‘save children’s lives and build healthy families,” said Côté and Yepez. “We’re hoping that our event may perhaps inspire other couples celebrating birthdays or anniversaries to do the same.”

About The Children’s Home Society of New Jersey

Founded in 1894, The Children’s Home Society of New Jersey is a nonsectarian, not-for-profit agency that touches the lives of thousands of children and families every year. CHS of NJ is governed by a voluntary board of directors and is being re-accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Services for Children and Families, Inc. Licensed as an adoption agency by New Jersey and Pennsylvania, CHS of NJ is a founding member of the Child Welfare League of America.