Citizens are invited July 7 to the Trotter Convention Center downtown for Columbus Police Department’s Black and White Ball — one of the agency’s biggest fundraisers of the year.
CPD is selling $25 tickets for the semi-formal event, where guests will be treated to food from Huck’s Place and live entertainment. The ball will begin at 7 p.m.
For nine years, Community Police Officer Rhonda Sanders has organized the bash to raise money for community events and charities, as well as to help families of police officers and firefighters with medical bills to pay.
“It’s a party with a purpose,” Sanders said. “… This is for the kids and our community.”
Sanders and a committee of volunteers organized the ball this year. The money goes to pay for National Night Out, a citywide block party CPD throws in August in conjunction with neighborhood watch events. Part of a national initiative, the block parties are a way for police officers to educate their communities on crime prevention. Sanders said this year CPD is working with Community Counseling Center to provide information on drug and alcohol addiction and rehabilitation.
The Black and White Ball also raises funds for the citywide toy drive held every holiday season. Citizens can give money and toys to the drive for low-income families in the community whose children normally wouldn’t get toys for Christmas.
Live performances from Logan the Entertainer and his band, as well as local poet Carla Cunningham, will be featured at the ball.
Cunningham, who began performing poetry at events around the city this year, said she is writing a piece for the ball about hope and encouragement.
“It’s just a poem to release hope and to let (the guests) know that what we’re doing is more than charity,” she said. “This is more than just getting together for a ball. It’s making a difference in people’s lives, from Night Out on Crime … to the toy drive they do to the (funds raised for) police officers when they’re down and they get sick or wounded and they cannot work. All of that makes a difference. Every little thing we do makes a difference. What we do matters.”
The fundraising goal for the ball this year is $20,000, Sanders said. So far, CPD has sold 300 tickets. Sanders said the ball usually draws a crowd of more than 400.
Tickets are available for purchase at CPD from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Thursday or the Rosenzweig Arts Center downtown. Guests can also pay $30 at the door. For more information, contact Sanders at 662-251-7355.
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