Abundant Goodness 04/20/13
“They will celebrate your Abundant Goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.” Psalm 145:7
On Saturday night, April 20, 2013, the Andrew L. Hicks, Jr. Foundation had the opportunity to celebrate all that God has done for and through the Foundation in the first 2 1/2 years of service. The event, called Abundant Goodness, gathered 120 friends and loyal supporters at Franklin Commons in Phoenixville for a beautiful party, delicious food and a spectacular night of dancing.
The highlight of the evening was the remembering and the celebrating. It was clear to everyone who attended that God has done a miraculous work in the City of Chester through the volumes of people who have volunteered with the Andrew L. Hicks, Jr. Foundation. Karen Hicks stated,
“God is the One doing all of the work of the Foundation. He is using some individuals to plan for it, others to organize it, some others to pray for it, others to pay for it, but make no mistake about it, the students are the ones doing the heavy lifting.”
The night began at 6pm when the dramatic two story art gallery at Franklin Commons was transformed into an exciting Cocktail Hour, set up with a Specialty Drink called the “Hicksie” as well as an international cheese station, an extravagant pasta station and plenty of interesting hors d’oeuvres such as crab cakes, spring rolls, cheese steak rolls and more. There was plenty of socializing taking place as guests reacquainted with friends and met plenty of new ones too. The dress was “Evening Elegant” with some men in tuxedos and others in dark suits with handsome ties. The women all looked beautiful, some in long, gorgeous gowns and others with short, sometimes sophisticated and sometimes fun and colorful cocktail dresses. The conversation in the room was warm, and genuine, and inspiring. The guests enjoyed great fellowship together during that first hour!
At 7pm the guests moved through the outdoor atrium and into an industrial space which was converted into a gorgeous dining room. Karen Hicks gave an Introduction and described the founding of the organization and then Brian Kramp said a blessing over the meal. After a delicious salmon and chicken dinner and a scrumptious dessert, all superbly catered by Drexelbrook Catering, the program began. Dan Knisely described the three major event categories, “Open Events”, “Warrior Guides” and “Camp Paradise” while the audience had the chance to see a short iMovie of each different type of event.
Karen Hicks represented the Foundation and gave out four awards. The first went to Rochelle Baxter who has served the Foundation faithfully at every single event for the past two and a half years. She was named, “Chester Adult Volunteer of the Year”. CCWA Paradise Farm Camps was recognized as “Organizational Partner of the Year”. The Foundation gave Henderson High School Counselor, Andy Grear an award for being the “West Chester Area Adult Volunteer of the Year”, and Morgan Daughtery received the award for “West Chester Area Student Volunteer of the Year” for her service in Open Event, two years of Warrior Guides, two years as a Warrior Guides Officer and for being a Foundation Representative to outside organizations this past year.
A special note from Andy and Karen:
“We are overwhelmed at the tremendous outpouring of love and support that we have received as a family since Andrew went to live in Heaven in July of 2010. We can not possibly thank the countless people (both students and adults) who have volunteered with our son’s Foundation, but our hearts have swelled with appreciation. We pray that the Lord will richly bless all those who have been working with us, praying for us, and contributing towards this cause, and we continue to marvel at the enormous love that the Lord has for the great City of Chester, PA, and its people. He has shown His Abundant Goodness and we joyfully sing of His righteousness.”
Special Thanks:
Drexelbrook Catering
Franklin Commons
Back 2 Life
Sveconway Printing, Inc.
Halladay Florist
Kim Kistler
Louann Rodgers
Michelle Ward
