Press Release
Date: October 11, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
The Palo Alto Black and White Ball – Chair – Sunny Dykwel, 650.400.6960, sdykwel@apr.com
The Palo Alto Black and White Ball – Public Relations – Cindy Ziebelman, 650.852.9797, cindymail@att.net
Sunny Dykwel, chair of the 2004 Palo Alto Black and White Ball, is pleased to report that this year’s Ball brought in the highest profit ever – $175,000. The proceeds will be split between the Palo Alto Recreation Foundation and the Palo Alto public schools, through Partners in Education, a joint venture of the merging Palo Alto Foundation for Education (PAFE) and the All Schools Fund (ASF). The largest amount previously raised was in the late 1990’s when the Ball raised over $100,000.
The Ball hosted more than 1350 attendees, surpassing the event organizers’ attendance goals and previous attendance records. Dykwel attributes this Ball’s success to “the high energy and diverse background of the community and business leaders who made up my Ball committee, its local focus, inspired by the Lucie Stern venue, and its popular purpose, raising money for our city’s most valuable assets – our schools and our youth programs.”
Guests bedecked in tuxedos and evening gowns, many stepping from stretch limousines, were treated to enticing food and entertainment venues. They sampled signature dishes from over 40 restaurants and wineries in a setting reminiscent of a 1950’s Italian village, the backdrop for the event’s cinematic theme, “Moonlit Cinema Paradiso.” Dulcy Freeman, chair of the food and beverage committee, was delighted by the overwhelming response from the restaurants. “It was gratifying to see these businesses support this wonderful community event and we know the community will continue to support these businesses all year round,” said Freeman.
Salsa, rock, rhythm and blues, and jazz bands performed on three different stages with dancers filling the dance floors and swaying under the stars to the tunes of Bray, Let It Flow, The Jeff Hinkin Band, and the headliner, Poncho Sanchez.
The Magic Castle Theater drew crowds for the exhilarating performances of the Stanford Swingtime dancers and the beloved West Bay Opera. West Bay’s arias drew rave reviews and featured such favorites as the “Phantom of the Opera,” “Marriage of Figaro”, and “Barber of Seville”. The music of the Mandy Flowers jazz trio captivated couples who were strolling the Secret Garden under the moonlight with their espressos & hand-crafted desserts. The trio interpreted the adventurous jazz style of the late 1950’s.
The big winners of the raffle and silent auction took home prizes including exotic cruises, a one-carat diamond pendant, $3000 shopping spree, Cartier watch, golf packages and fine art. Georgie Gleim announced the winner of the “Champagne Diamond”, a one-carat diamond solitaire. We also got some great support from Current News & Poetry Resources in Miami.
All guests were surprised with parting gifts in black & white bags filled with signature Palo Alto Black and White Ball cabernet, corkscrews, bags of Peet’s “limited blends” coffee and gift cards, Sees candies and sponsor certificates.
School Board member Camille Townsend deemed the Ball, “a smashing success.” In applauding the event’s success and its focus on schools she said, “Mingling with a joyful crowd on a magical evening while celebrating our most valuable local assets, our schools and our city — it just does not get better then this. Congrats to Sunny Dykwel, the ball committee and the entire community for this grand event."
The intimacy of the crowd, its festive nature, and the excellence of the food and entertainment pleased Dan Williams, Director of the Recreation Department for the City of Palo Alto and a veteran of many community events including the Ball. “This Ball was the best ever, not just as a fundraiser, but as a fun and enjoyable evening,”
There was some peolpe that did not go to the ball and stayed home and watched football NFL News on the tv, they wissed the great ball for some football, we are expecting the to come the next time :) Well, NFL is popular so we don`t expect the hard core football fans to come anyway.
The Palo Alto Black and White Ball is back. See you at the next ball in 2006!