Hearts of
Hospitality House Ball Feb. 7 Fundraiser features ‘Dancing with
the Stars’ competition
By Melanie Davis
It is time once again for the annual Hearts of Hospitality
House Ball.
In this, the 14th year of the event, there are some changes to
look forward to at the ball.
Andy and Kay Harkins strike
a pose in preparation for the Hearts of Hospitality House
Heart Ball, featuring a “Dancing with the Stars”
competition. Photo by Mark
Mitchell
Over the past 13 years, the event has been a semi-formal affair
with a large silent auction to benefit the Hospitality House of
Boone. The first 11 years, the ball was held as a Christmas ball,
but changed to a Valentine’s Day event two years ago.
For this year’s event, a “Dancing with the Stars”
competition has been added. Six local celebrity couples have been
recruited by the Hearts of Hospitality House organization to participate
in the competition as a part of the fundraising efforts.
The winner will be determined by the number of ball attendee votes.
Each couple will have a table, where people can meet and talk
to them and cast their votes. It is $1 per vote. The team with
the most votes will be crowned the winners at the end of the ball.
After the celebrity competition, a second competition will be
held for ball attendees to the tune of “In the Mood.”
Judges will patrol the floor and tap couples on the shoulder to
leave the floor until a single couple remains standing.
The Todd Wright Band will be providing the music for the ball.
In place of the large silent auction of years past, organizers
chose to have a Sweetheart Getaway auction, with items ranging
from a cruise package to romantic dinners for two. The silent
auction will be integrated into this year’s Celebrity Serve
event in April.
A buffet dinner is included in the ticket price of $50 per person.
This is half of the cost of last year’s event. According
to organizer Ann Spinetto, the members of the Hearts of Hospitality
House decided to reduce the cost in order to make the ball more
of a celebration this year and as a “thank you” to the
community for the tremendous support of the Hospitality House’s
combined campaign.
The combined campaign kicked off last year with a goal of $3 million
to be raised in three years. The money will be used toward the
building of a new homeless shelter to serve the seven-county radius
currently served by the Hospitality House and provide operating
costs for the next three years for the WeCan and Bread of Life
programs, homeless shelters and other services provided by the
organization.
In a little over one year, the organization has already reached
72 percent of the goal by raising $2.3 million. Thus far, there
have been 450 individual and business contributors, as well as
21 faith congregations joining the effort.
All of the proceeds of the Heart Ball will benefit the combined
campaign.
The ball is organized each year by the Hearts of Hospitality House,
an auxiliary organization that serves as an additional fundraising
arm.
The ball will be held at the Broyhill Inn and Conference Center
on the campus of Appalachian State University on Feb. 7 from 6:30
to 11:30 p.m.
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at High Country Bank
locations, mailing a check to Hearts of Hospitality House, care
of Rose Bridgeman, 472 Maple Ridge Drive, Boone, N.C. 28607. For
more information on the ball, Bridgeman can be reached at (828)
264-2733.
For more information on the Hospitality House or to make a contribution
to the combined campaign, visit www.hospitalityhouseofboone.org.
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