Summit Year in Review: The Most Inspirational Stories

Esperanza Urrego, owner of Esperanza's Salon and Spa, hosted the event free of charge because she believes in giving back to the community.  

“Feeling beautiful is the best medicine. I was happy to help these women see that within themselves,” she said. Dozens turned out the free makeovers during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Toi Jackson and her close friend Karla Ridley of Cranford got the invite from Oprah's producers to come to Chicago for a Nov. 16, 2010 show taping. Jackson and Ridley were selected after Jackson wrote a letter to Oprah about a foundation she created for domestic violence called “Just Breath.” Ridley was her inspiration, she said. 

Little did they know they would be driving off a car lot with a new Volkswagon Beetle a year later. 

Dozens came out to the corner of the  on Union Place and Summit Avenue to donate food for the holiday. Mayor Jordan Glatt was on hand to help deliver frozen turkeys. This was one of the largest collections for The Community FoodBank of NJ in 2011.

Kerron Venable, who performs under the rap alias Venn Grimm, grew up in Summit and went to  in the early 90s. Today, he's a coach for Summit's youth football league. Venable brought his Hilltopper spirit and the support of about 30 former high school friends to the Starland Ballroom for a set that got the crowd roaring.

"If we didn't have the friends and network we have, we couldn't pull this off," said his high school friend and manager Lori Golden.