Hundreds of sponsors, teen “angels,” club members and guests filled the Wally Allen Ballroom on March 8 to raise money for the 20th Century Club’s lodge for cancer patients at Maryland Avenue and Cedar Street. The annual Hope Ball welcomed about 700 and raised just under $500,000 for the lodge, says Janet Keller, club spokesman.
The evening began with the introduction of 24 high school juniors who comprise this year’s Angels of Hope, a months-long program of education and volunteering at the lodge and at medical centers. Emily Ruth Dickson and Ashlyn Leigh Quickel were spotlighted for outstanding participation (more than 100 hours of service).
A distinguished service (for adults) award went to Cecilia Blasier, while Cathy Ellis Hendrix of Ellis Infiniti received the Hope Award.
Ellis Infiniti also donated one year’s lease of an Infiniti QX80 that went for $10,750. Other big live-auction items included a diamond necklace from Jones & Sons Diamond and Bridal Fine Jewelry (159 diamonds, 8.47 carats) for $10,250, a three-night Napa Valley trip for four for $7,500 (donated by Janet and Glen Davis and auctioned off twice), a one-week stay in Rockport, Mass., with a view of the ocean (donated by Kate and Carter Dalton) for $4,250, and a dinner for 12 at the home of Sherrie and Doug Meyer prepared by Chicago chef Rick Johnson, $3,750.
The highlight of the night was a video shot by Mami Kuwano Renaud of lodger Charolete Williams, a 24-year-old from Salem. The short documentary - about the length of a music video - took gala goers through the arc of Williams’ recent past, from a full head of hair to bald, from active and outdoors to a hospital gurney beneath fluorescent lights. The video spotlights the succor and comfort of the lodge in such patients’ lives and was a call to give generously to the club’s Fund-A-Night program (HopeAwayFrom-Home.sitewrench.com, click on Fund-A-Night).
For it, Williams got a standing ovation.
High Profile, Pages 38 on 03/16/2014