Community Corner

Mayor's Charity Ball Plans 'Oscar Night' Experience

Final preparations are being made for this Saturday's gala fundraiser under the tent at West Hartford Town Hall.

Submitted by Mayor's Charity Ball Committee

With a fun and elegant twist of an Oscar party, attendees at Saturday evening's Mayor's Charity Ball will once again rally together to raise funds for important local non-profit organizations.

The 2013 Mayor’s Charity Ball will have a “Hollywood” theme, which will be seen in the decorations and glamorous outfits. To begin the evening, attendees can enjoy a signature drink, silent auction (with items donated by local businesses), and live entertainment during the cocktail hour in the Town Hall Conference Center.

Then, the party moves outdoors to the tent on the Town Hall Green for a live auction (conducted by Steve Parker from WTNH-TV), dancing, and a sit-down, surf-and-turf dinner catered by Max Catering.

The emcee for evening is the local author, and West Hartford elementary school teacher, Matthew Dicks, who has written the novels “Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend,” “Something Missing,” “Unexpectedly,” and “Milo,” as well as the rock opera “The Clowns.”

Entertainment highlights include the iconic band Eight to the Bar, who will be performing swing, boogie woogie, rhythm & blues, soul, and Motown for dancing until midnight; Conard High School’s Be S#arp Singers; the Hall High School Jazz Combo; actress Erin Lindsey Krom; Sean Pallatroni (EMMY Award-winning composer, songwriter and pianist); and the UConn Ballroom Dance Team.

The classic Hollywood theme will also be seen with “cigarette girls” selling raffle boxes, two of which include an iPad mini and the use of a luxury car for a weekend. [Seen in the above photo is Shellie Giroux, a member of the 2013 Board of Directors, in her “cigarette girl” outfit.]

“We are so proud that the ball has grown into an event of such size and scope,” said West Hartford Mayor Scott Slifka. “The night’s always a lot of fun and more importantly, critical to supporting non-profits such as Playhouse on Park and Hopeworks.”

Event Sponsors for the event include Max Catering and Taylor Rental Party Plus. Gold Sponsors include Brignole, Bush, & Lewis, Rockville Bank Foundation and Webster Bank. Silver Sponsors include Farmington Bank, The Mercy Community and West Hartford Magazine. And the event beneficiaries are Playhouse on Park and HopeWorks Inc., two important non-profit organizations that enrich the West Hartford community and residents.

The 12 board members include returning members Carol McCabe, Julianne Roth, Michelle Gramley Kauk, and Shellie Giroux from the Playhouse on Park; Chris Skelly, Ann Mikulak, Sharon Gaddy, and Shawn Meehan of Hopeworks, as well as Jill Jarvis, Christina Steinhauser and Lou Luba from the West Hartford community.

And, just recently, Scott Slifka was named the “Best Community Leader” and Eight to the Bar was named “Best Live Band” in the 2013 Best of Hartford Magazine Readers’ Poll. Playhouse on Park also was named “Best Professional Theater in Connecticut” on Broadwayworld.com.

To buy tickets and for additional event details, visit www.TheMayorsCharityBall.org. Tickets can still be purchased through this Wednesday, May 8.

The Mayor’s Charity Ball in West Hartford — now in its 14th year — is a 501(c)3, non-profit organization governed by a board of directors with the input and endorsement of the mayor of West Hartford. The board of directors is comprised of four board members from each organization and three representatives from the West Hartford Community. Event beneficiaries are Playhouse on Park and HopeWorks Inc., two important West Hartford non-profit organizations.

Playhouse on Park is an award-winning destination for the performing arts. Nestled in the vibrant Park Road neighborhood in West Hartford, Playhouse on Park is Hartford’s most affordable and intimate professional theatre, where the parking is free, the actors are right off Broadway, and the back row is just four seats from the stage.

HopeWorks, founded in 1973, provides hope and help to thousands of young people, (between the ages of 12 and 22) and their families through counseling, education and community outreach. HopeWorks strives to help individuals and their families find a sense of purpose, hope, and strength from within to cope with all of life’s challenges and opportunities.


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