Join us for the 2026 Ridgefield A Better Chance Gala
Friday, March 27 at 6:00 PM EST
Le Chateau, South Salem, NY
Honoring Megan Searfoss and featuring Alumnae Speakers
Fulvia Vargas-De Leon and Sylvana Soto
Forward Together reflects Ridgefield’s shared belief that progress happens through connection. Our Scholars bring resilience and ambition; our community brings encouragement and opportunity. Together, we create pathways that move futures forward.
Join us as we gather to celebrate this partnership and the impact it continues to make.
Honoring Community Leadership
2026 Gala Honoree: Megan Searfoss
Megan Searfoss is an entrepreneur, author, and community advocate dedicated to expanding access to movement, wellness, and connection — especially within underserved communities.
As the founder of CT RUN CO (Ridgefield Running), Megan has built welcoming spaces that encourage people of all backgrounds and abilities to move, connect, and thrive. Her stores were named Best Running Store in America in 2022 and are consistently ranked among the Top 50 running stores nationwide.
A nine-time Ironman athlete and marathoner, Megan is also the founder of Run Like a Mother and the author of See Mom Run, both of which empower women to find strength, confidence, and community through movement. Her commitment to giving back is central to her work, including founding the Kicks for Kids initiative, which has donated over $50,000 and hundreds of pairs of shoes to support students in Bridgeport.
Megan’s belief that movement builds confidence, well-being, and community aligns deeply with RABC’s mission. We are honored to recognize her leadership and impact at the 2026 Gala.
Alumnae Speakers
Fulvia Vargas-De Leon & Sylvana Soto
Celebrating the Power of Opportunity Across Generations
This year’s Gala will feature a powerful alumnae conversation with sisters Fulvia Vargas (Class of 2008) and Sylvana Soto (Class of 2019) — two RABC graduates whose journeys through the program took place 11 years apart.
Their stories reflect the enduring impact of RABC across generations: how consistent support, access to opportunity, and belief in young women continue to shape confidence, ambition, and future success over time.
Together, Fulvia and Sylvana will share reflections on their individual paths, their shared experience as sisters, and the role RABC played in helping each of them move forward — in their own time, and in their own way.
Fulvia Vargas-De Leon
Fulvia is a 2008 graduate of RABC and Ridgefield High School. After high school, Fulvia attended Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania where she majored in Global Studies and Political Science. During her time at Lehigh University, Fulvia studied abroad in Madrid, Spain and spent a semester in Washington D.C. working at the World Health Organization. In addition, she was selected as one of four students in the country to be a part of the United States-Indonesia Partnership Program (USIPP), a program funded by the U.S. Department of State and the Institute of International Education. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from Lehigh University, she went on to attend Syracuse University College of Law. At the College of Law, Fulvia was president of the Latin American Law Student Association, a Syracuse Public Interest Network Fellow, and part of the inaugural class of Pro Bono Scholars in New York State. Fulvia is currently an Associate Deputy Commissioner at the New York State Division of Human Rights.
Sylvana Soto
Sylvana is a 2019 RABC graduate of RABC and RHS. After receiving her degree in Political Science from Stony Brook University (SUNY), Sylvana worked at an education non-profit called DonorsChoose as a Strategy and Innovation Fellow and an Equity and Experience Fellow, leading work in staff retention and increasing BIPOC representation in children's literature. Sylvana has also previously worked in local government at the NYC Council Office as a Legislative Intern where she led research on early childhood education and tenant rights, in addition to being the main point of contact for creating and managing citizenship applications. Currently, Sylvana is a Govern for America (GFA) Communications Fellow at the Department of Health's Office of Communications where she works on efforts to keep the public informed about the Department's initiatives in creating a healthy Pennsylvania for all.
Thank you to our Sponsors!
Platinum Partner in Education
Dean’s List Sponsor
Mentor Sponsor
Achievement Sponsor
Friends of RABC
Attend or Sponsor an Event
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