McLean – Gala 2024 “Illuminating Inclusion”
Hilton McLean Tysons Corner
This luminous gala, held Nov. 9, 2024, gathered nearly 500 guests to support The Arc of Northern Virginia’s mission to serve over 39,000 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Led by gala chairs Patricia and Tom Connally and Toby and Lindsay Latham, the evening featured an inspiring program, personal stories, and a lively auction offering exclusive experiences like a Tuscany getaway and a private dinner at Maketto in D.C.
Guests raised over $57,000 for accessible language translation resources and $395,000 overall, making it the most successful gala in over a decade. “The funds raised are vital to our ability to offer critical resources to the community,” says Executive Director Melissa Heifetz.
Professional auctioneer Susan Johnson at the live auction.
Melissa Heifetz and Frank Stephens present Weird Brothers Coffee with special award.
Bidders perusing silent auction items.
This article originally appeared in the February 2025 issue.
