Anne Carlsen Center for Children rang in 2008 with an event that truly sparkled.

Students and their families, staff, community members and civic leaders came together to celebrate the New Year’s holiday in style. The ACCC "Sparkle!" New Year’s Eve Gala featured a night filled with entertainment, an elegant dining experience, and a silent auction.

About 140 people celebrated the start of a new year and helped support ACCC by attending the formal dinner and dance at the Quality Inn in Jamestown. Chef Emily Alen prepared the exquisite meal.

Joe Friday got everyone dancing, and ACCC students also entertained the crowd by putting on an amazing musical performance.

Proceeds raised from this year’s event will be used to help purchase an oxygen saturation monitor for the medically fragile unit. Susan Roemmich, Nurse Coordinator at ACCC, says the equipment will be especially beneficial for the Center.

"The monitor measures the amount of oxygen carried by the blood at any particular time," Roemmich explained. "It is especially critical for those students who have had breathing difficulties." ACCC has oxygen saturation monitors, but Roemmich says they are outdated and not providing accurate readings.

"The Anne Carlsen Center for Children is grateful for the community support, presence and engagement at the 5th annual New Year’s Eve Gala," said Judy Green, ACCC Foundation Executive Director.

The highlight of the Gala, the diamond raffle, featured a Princess Cut Star 129 pendant. The pendant, valued at $3,200, went to Connie Lillejord, director of Rehab Services at ACCC. "At first, I wasn’t sure if I was looking at the numbers on the raffle ticket right," Lillejord said. "It was surreal. I wore the pendant to work last week and a lot of people wanted to see it. Those who didn’t get to see it have asked me to wear it again sometime soon."

ACCC offers a rich tradition of residential, therapeutic and educational services. The Center embraces the values of compassion, holistic encouragement, acceptance, life-long learning, service above self, and teamwork. Individualized services include care for children and young adults with medically fragile conditions, autism, cerebral palsy, behavior disorders, and many other medical challenges.