Crystal Hope Awards winners to be announced at kickoff party Jan. 21; main event scheduled for April 25
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| SOWING SEEDS OF HOPE | Co-chairs for the 2010 Bloomin’ Ball … sowing seeds of hope benefit for AIDS Interfaith Network are, from left, Tim DeWitt, Suzanne Butler and Thom DeWitt. |
Tim and Thom DeWitt, owners of OBOX Solutions, and Suzanne Butler, supply chain manager for Frito Lay, have been named as co-chairs of AIDS Interfaith Network’s 2010 annual fundraiser, the Bloomin’ Ball…sowing seeds of hope.
Honorary co-chairs are Dr. Jaime Vasquez of the Vasquez Clinic and his partner, local realtor Randy Jenkins.
The event also includes the presentation of the AIN Crystal Hope Awards, given to North Texas individuals or businesses, organizations or faith groups that collaborate with AIN and make a significant impact in HIV/AIDS.
Recipients of this year’s awards will be announced at the Bloomin’ Ball Launch Party scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 21, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Laurels on the 20th floor of the Westin Park Central Hotel.
This year’s live entertainment at Bloomin’ Ball includes performances by local musicians and singers Buddy Shanahan, Shelly Torres-West, Gary Floyd, Denise Lee, Anton Shaw and Crystal Ramone. There will also be a special performance by the Flute Choir ensemble of the Oak Lawn Symphonic Band.
The event is set for April 24 at the Westin Park Central Hotel. The VIP reception and auction preview begins at 6 p.m., followed by reception and silent auction at 6:30 p.m., and the seated dinner and featured entertainment at 7:30 p.m.
Proceeds from the event benefit the programs of AIDS Interfaith Network, which support more than 2,000 men, women, children and youth who are living with HIV/AIDS, and reach over 20,000 people who are at-risk of HIV infection to provide life-saving HIV prevention education.
Sponsorship packages are available at the $1,000, $1,750, $2,500 and $5,000 levels, which include a table of eight, and the $10,000 level, which includes two tables of eight.
Table packages at $800 are also available. Individual tickets are $100 for VIP seating and $75 for premiere seating. Seating is limited at all price levels.
Information on sponsorship, securing a table, purchasing tickets, donating to the silent or live auctions or how to otherwise become involved is available by contacting Blake M. Peery by phone at 214-943-4444 or by e-mail at bpeery@aidsinterfaithnetwork.org, and through the AIN Web site, AidsInterfaithNetwork.org.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition January 15, 2010.