Looking for a new reason to bring on the bling? You’ve got it!
Organizers of the upcoming The Bling Gala — formerly known as the Black, White & Bling Gala — say they’re dropping the black and white signature theme so attendees can wear their favorite bling, no matter the color.
The sixth annual gala, hosted by the Garner Mid-Day Rotary Club, is set for Saturday, Nov. 1 at the Grand Marquise Ballroom, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The ballroom is located at 205 New Fidelity Court in Garner.
The fundraiser supports the club’s Back Pack Buddies program and provides scholarships for Garner area students.
The evening will begin with a cocktail hour featuring live music by local jazz group Sidecar Social Club. Ticket holders will have a reserved seat for a plated gourmet dinner and the night’s program.
During dinner, guest emcee Mark Roberts will help share the Back Pack Buddies story and lead the live auction. Participants can bid on prize packages or purchase a “Back Pack for a Year” which feeds a student for the school year.
Following the drawing for the grand prize — a 1.2 carat pear-shaped diamond ring from Anfesa’s Jewelers valued at more than $6,000 — attendees can dance the night away with music provided by a DJ.
The Mid-Day Rotary Club’s Back Pack Buddies program provides nutritious weekend meals to homeless and needy students in four Garner elementary schools. For many of these children, their only meals are the breakfast and lunch they receive at school during the week. Through this program, students receive a backpack filled with nutritiously balanced food each Friday to take with them for the weekend.
The club partners with the Lord of Life Lutheran Church’s Social Concerns Ministry, whose members shop to fill the pantry. Volunteers sort, pack and distribute the food to the four schools. The average annual cost to fill back packs is $325 per student.
The gala also raises funds for scholarships given to students graduating from Garner schools to assist with educational expenses.
Last year’s gala raised more than $33,000 which provided nine scholarships and weekly backpacks for 80 students for a year. This year’s goal is $40,000 to provide 10 scholarships and weekly backpacks for 100 students.
Tickets for the The Bling Gala are $75 each and can be purchased from any Mid-Day Rotary Club member or at garnermid-dayrotary.org.
For more information, contact Crystal Dempsey at (919) 923-8705 or crystal.dempsey@edwardjones.com.
The Garner Mid-Day Rotary Club meets each Tuesday at 12:30 p.m., at Logan’s Roadhouse, 1000 Timber Drive East, in the White Oak Shopping Center. For more information about the club, visit the website or contact John Hodges at (919) 395-8307.
