This was a night they got to “sparkle and shine.”
Those were the sentiments shared by volunteer Martiza Bravo as she watched the revelers spin and sway on the dance floor during the third annual dance for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities at St. Columban Catholic Church in Garden Grove.
Organized annually by the St. Columban’s Women’s Council, the April 19 soiree provided an opportunity for adults with special needs to enjoy a meal – served by St. Columban students – and then dance to DJ music amid disco lights and balloons.
This year’s dance drew about 70 attendees and sported a springtime theme titled “April Showers Bring May Flowers.”
The event is free for the attendees.
A GUEST HITS THE DANCE FLOOR AT THE THIRD ANNUAL DANCE FOR ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES HELD ON APRIL 19 AT ST. COLUMBAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN GARDEN GROVE. PHOTOS BY YUAN WANG/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
“The one fact that is extremely important to me is that a lot of the times they’re overlooked,” said Bravo, whose career involves working with individuals with developmental disabilities. She is an honorary member of the Women’s Council.
GUESTS ENJOY THE MUSIC DURING THE APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY FLOWERS EVENT HELD ON APRIL 19 AT ST. COLUMBAN IN GARDEN GROVE.
“So, events like this, their inner light gets to shine and to me, that’s what’s very important. It’s amazing to see who they are as people and individuals.”
Hilda Mendez, a member of the Women’s Council, was the catalyst for starting the dinner dance, inspired by her grandson Markus, a young man with a developmental disability. When her grandson was in high school, Mendez approached a school district about organizing a prom but was turned down.
Other attempts at starting an event through other organizations were also unsuccessful.
“People like to do things,” Mendez said. “We all want to do things. These young adults wanted to do what everybody else was doing, but there weren’t a lot of venues that they could go to.”
ORGANIZED ANNUALLY BY THE ST. COLUMBAN’S WOMEN’S COUNCIL, THE APRIL 19 DANCE ATTRACTED NEARLY 70 ATTENDEES.
After joining the St. Columban’s Women’s Council, Mendez ultimately got approval from the Diocese of Orange.
“I got together with the ladies, and we did the first one three years ago,” Mendez said. “We give them a place to go. We want them to have fun.”
Fr. Joseph Luan Nguyen, St. Columban’s pastor, kicked off the festivities with a blessing and then made the rounds to every table to greet the attendees and family members individually.
“We thank the Women’s Council for their generosity and support, and we hope for many more years to come,” said
Fr. Nguyen. “May our hearts rejoice and may our lives become active to participate to help one another.”
The Women’s Council works with the Regional Center of Orange County, a nonprofit that provides services for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families, to get word out to the community about the event.
Garden Grove Chapter 4581 of the Knights of Columbus has worked with the Women’s Council to provide support and assistance for the event in a variety of ways.
Maddie Potter accompanied her friend Austin Simmons at the request of Simmons’ mother.
Simmons had three plates of food and burned it all off on the dance floor.
Potter brought Simmons to the event at the request of his mother and said it was his first time at an event that was organized specifically for individuals with developmental disabilities.
“It is a blast,” Potter said. “I think he loves it.”