Millburn Mud Ball Raises Over $48K For Ida-Torn Businesses (PHOTOS)

MILLBURN, NJ — The fashion show extravaganza Millburn Mud Ball has successfully raised over $48,000 to support damaged Millburn businesses from Hurricane Ida flooding.

Over 350 people attended the event in Downtown Millburn on Sunday, Oct. 17 (it was postponed one day due to rain).

The Mud Ball, inspired by the New York Time’s photo of muddied dresses from Millburn’s Highline Fashion after the hurricane, featured a fashion show, showcasing clothing from local clothing shops.

The proceeds from the event went toward Explore Millburn’s Hurricane Ida relief fund to benefit businesses within Millburn’s Special Improvement District — or SID — that were affected by the storm. Missan said there was also a separate grant made for businesses outside the SID that were damaged, as well.

Some of the clothing stores whose looks were featured on the runway include Angelique Terrelonge, Bungalow, 580 South, Footnotes, Highline Fashion and many more. The runway models were made up of Millburn students, some parents and even the fireman crew — including Fire Chief Robert Ecchavaria.

In the finale, an appearance was made by Wendy Missan — director of the Mud Ball — sporting the iconic muddy ballgown from Highline Fashion.

See photos above. To watch highlights from the fashion show, watch the video here.

In addition to the fashion show, the event included a sit-down dinner catered by La Strada — for those who opted for these tickets — and “A Taste of Millburn” food tasting with 25 participating restaurants.

There were also live performances by Pixedust Players — a local theater company — as well as poetry by Millburn High School students Angela Huang and Tamir Stein, an acapella performance by Montclair High School’s “The Passing Notes” and music from DJ Denver Brouet.

“The spirit at the Millburn Mud Ball exhibited by the residents and business owners after such devastating losses was heartwarming and a reminder,” a press release states. “As Missan said in her speech, “people are good, people are strong and people are generous. It takes a muddy village.’”

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