Patron tickets to the Junior Auxiliary of Columbus 2018 Charity Ball will be available from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22 at the Junior Auxiliary Hut located at 1000 Park Circle, next to Lee Park.
The nonprofit organization’s 68th annual Charity Ball will be held Saturday, April 7 at Trotter Convention Center in downtown Columbus. Doors open at 7 p.m. Presentations begin at 8 p.m.
“The evening will include presentation of the Charity Ball king and queen, presentation of the royal court, a performance by the Columbus High School Varsity Singers and live entertainment by The DMP Band out of Memphis, Tennessee,” said Betsy Galloway, ticket chair. A royalty breakfast at 9:30 p.m. follows the presentations.
Patrons purchasing tickets Thursday will have first choice of seat placement. Full tables seat 12 guests.
Proceeds from the ball support JA service projects for the children of Lowndes County. They include JAM (Junior Auxiliary Mentors); In My Shoes, a disability awareness program; Clothing, providing school clothes to children in need; Stand Up Speak Out, a bullying awareness project; a Reality Fair; Fit and Fabulous Forever, a health-focused initiative; and Choose Your Path, which brings motivational and educational speakers to local schools.
The first Pilgrimage Ball was held in 1951 at the request of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, to provide entertainment for guests visiting for the city’s annual Pilgrimage. In the years since, the success of the ball has allowed JA and its programs to thrive. It has become the association’s primary fundraiser. In 2011, the name of the event was officially changed to Charity Ball, to reflect its true purpose as a fundraiser providing charitable service to the community.
Tickets
Charity Ball tickets are $45 for table seating in the ballroom. Balcony tickets are also available for $25. Tickets to the Royalty Breakfast are $25. Beginning Thursday, March 1, balcony and breakfast tickets may be purchased at Military Hardware at 1002 13th St. N. in Columbus.
For more information, or to purchase tickets, contact Galloway at 662-364-3574, or visit jacolumbus.org.
Tax deductible donations to JA may be mailed to the attention of the treasurer at Junior Auxiliary of Columbus, P.O. Box 11, Columbus, MS 39703.
Sponsor support
Galloway said, “Junior Auxiliary of Columbus would like to thank our 2017-2018 corporate sponsors and community partners for making this event possible.” They include:
Porter, Singley and Crane Family Dentistry; Premier Ford Lincoln; RAM Entertainment; RJ Young Company; Steel Dynamics Inc.; The Commercial Dispatch; the Gene Imes Family; Waters Truck &Tractor Co./Waters International/Waters Transportation.
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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