BY HILLARY VIDERS
SPECIAL TO NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
ENGLEWOOD, N.J.—On Tuesday, Nov. 27, the Modiani Kitchen Showroom on Dean Street in Englewood was a really sweet scene.
In conjunction with Giving Tuesday, an international charitable initiative, the Women’s Rights Information Center (WRIC) held its sixth annual Wine and Chocolate party. The fundraiser was a tasty and tasteful event.
WRIC is a community-based nonprofit established in 1973 to help women meet life’s financial, domestic and career challenges.
WRIC helps women to help themselves by providing a variety of informational, educational, and practical life-enhancing programs.
“To help women learn and develop the skills they need to move toward economic self-sufficiency in order to provide for themselves and their families,” said Lil Corcoran, WRIC director.
The Wine and Chocolate party was a great venue for 100 guests, staff and volunteers to socialize, network and have lots of yummy fun! Special guests included award-winning ABC News journalist and anchor Nina Pineda, former Englewood Councilman Scott Reddin and Englewood Chamber of Commerce President Carol Rauscher.
Beginning at 5:30 p.m., there were many activities, including hand massages, tarot card readings, astrology art craft, essential oil therapy, and the sale of colorful gift bags with assorted items.
An abundance of food was displayed around the room, including: gourmet hors d’oeuvres and sandwiches, fruit and cheese platters, crudites and dips, a juice bar, dessert displays, and—of course—wine and chocolate. At the stove in the main kitchen area, Chef Leslie DiPiero cooked up luscious quesadillas with a host of fillings and side dishes.
Sponsors of the event included Modiani Kitchens, The Cheesecake Factory, European Wax Center, Hand and Stone Massage, Good Neighbor Juice Bar, Maggiano’s, Panera Bread, Matisse Chocolatier, Chic Shop Nails and Spa, Liberty Pharmacy, Rispoli’s Pastry Shop, ShopRite and Trader Joe’s.
At 6:30 p.m., Corcoran welcomed everyone with a robust speech, emphasizing the organization’s importance.
“WRIC was founded in 1973, at the dawn of the current women’s movement. It is one of the greatest movements of all time,” she said. “In an effort to empower women to be equal, we have not only helped women, we helped everybody!
“We want our clients to reach for the stars. We know that when they rise, we all rise,” Corcoran said.
Corcoran went on to detail WRIC’s accomplishments in 2018.
“In the past year, we have almost doubled our work with clients on welfare readiness preparation, we purchased a web-based job training program and we started a work-networking group called ‘Women Helping Women,’ modeled after The Community Chest’s motto, ‘Neighbors Helping Neighbors.’ We also added a very successful art therapy program.”
Looking to the future, “In the coming year—thanks to grants from both Bergen County’s Department of Human Services, Division of Senior Services and WUIP (Women United in Philanthropy)—we will be expanding our Shared Housing Program.”
She concluded by thanking all the WRIC donors, board members and volunteers.
A highlight of the evening was a dramatic and moving tribute to the WRIC, delivered by client advocate Aurora Ali. As she unraveled her story of a life broken by despair and rejection, teetering on the brink of suicide, audience members were stunned and a few had tears in their eyes. Ali herself was in tears as she recounted her ordeal. As she stepped up to the microphone, she appeared visibly shaken. But Corcoran stood nearby and radiated a warmth that helped Ali gain her composure.
“After graduating from high school, I was at an all-time low, broken and depressed,” Ali began. “I stood in Edgewater overlooking the Hudson and thought of jumping. Life and reality hit me like a ton of bricks! I was so anxious and overwhelmed that plunging into the Hudson and ending it all seemed to be the answer.
“A miracle took place, and I didn’t jump,” she said. “Instead, I ended up at the Women’s Rights Information Center. They helped me turn my life around…The staff, the atmosphere and the love that I felt restarted my life. They started me with art therapy and the rest is history.”
Ali said she underwent career counseling, graduated from their Microsoft Office Class and even borrowed a pink blazer from WRIC’s Career Closet.
“I now have a wonderful job at the Hampton Inn in Teaneck,” she said. “The WRIC is a little shop of miracles!”
Everyone at the “Reach for the Stars” Wine and Chocolate event wholeheartedly agrees.
PHOTOS BY HILLARY VIDERS