Passion, pride and pizzazz is the theme for the 44th version of The Bahamas Red Cross Society's Red Cross Ball, which kicks off the Bahamian ball season.
"We do what we do with passion. We take pride in what we do. And it will be a night of pizzazz," said Caroline Turnquest, Bahamas Red Cross Society director general.
This year, Veronica Bishop headlines the entertainment for the evening with the Spank Band. She is expected to perform a set that will be just over two hours, before the band takes over and does its own thing. The Royal Bahamas Police Force Pop Band will entertain guests during the cocktail hour, with the versatile Lou Adams Orchestra which plays their own brand of Goombay and Calypso and whose repertoire includes jazz standards, popular ballads and a wide variety of music will perform during dinner. The deejay takes over to continue the party until the last patron decides to call it a night.
The all-Bahamian line-up for the ball is the third such event for the Red Cross Society, which held an all-Bahamian entertainment line-up in 2013 -- Tingum Dem, Spank Band, Bishop, Geno D., D-Mac, the Defence Force Pop Band and the Lou Adams Orchestra -- during the 41st annual ball in celebration of the country's 40th year of independence that turned out to be a crowd-pleasing affair. That ball was different from the black tie affair that in the past had showcased international vocalists such as Eddie Levert, Peabo Bryson, Jeffrey Osborne, Lou Rawls and Harold Melvin's Blue Notes.
"I think it's extremely important to support local artists and I invite people to support me in that," said Turnquest. "I get a lot of flak about not bringing in someone, because people look forward to international artists, and that's fine, but we have to pay the international artist, and that's money leaving the country. I want to support the local Bahamian artists, who at some point in time we have to go to them for help, so I prefer to support them."
The black tie event that will be held under the patronage of Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling and Prime Minister Perry Christie and his wife Bernadette Christie, will be held at the Melia Nassau Beach Resort on Saturday, January 30; cocktails are at 7 p.m., dinner at 8 p.m. Donation is $250 per ticket.
Patrons will dine on creamy conch chowder; salad bouquet with cucumber, plum tomatoes and carrot curl with honey balsamic dressing; passion fruit sorbet; duo of petit sirloin and pan seared mahi mahi with lemon butter sauce served with roasted red bliss potatoes, asparagus and broccoli; and passion fruit cheesecake.
As usual, a slew of prizes will be raffled off during the evening. Prizes up for grabs include hotel stays, spa certificates, dinner certificates, electronics, airline airfare, clothing store certificates, jewelry, teeth cleaning certificates, movie tickets, and gym gift certificates.
"It's going to be a night of great fellowship, fun and dancing the night away," said Turnquest.
While the ball is about glitz, glamor and engaging in an evening of fun, the ball's success is critical to the Red Cross as proceeds go towards the Society's operational expenses.
Turnquest said they are hoping to raise $100,000 and sell out their 500 seats. With two weeks to the ball, they had 35 tables sold, and another 15 to sell.
"Considering the work we do, and considering that we just came through a major disaster in the country [with Hurricane Joaquin devastating a number of southern islands], we need all the support we can get," said Turnquest. "Persons would have seen us collecting large checks, however, those were for the ongoing relief. We still need to keep our doors open. We still need to pay our staff. We still need to pay utilities, and pay persons. Even when we're putting on events you have to pay for advertising, so we encourage people to support us so we're in a position to support others."
At the annual ball, the Red
As she prepares to host the 44th ball, Turnquest said they are grateful for the people that have supported them over the years and look forward to them supporting them by attending the ball again, along with the new people that would attend the ball for the first time.
"We are grateful to the people that have supported us over the years. We thank them for their support, and look forward to seeing them on the night of the ball to switch the pace a bit to get back into happy times with us," she said.
This year, three Red Cross Society Family Island group leaders will be honored -- Barbara Johnson, Abaco; Willis McKinney, Crooked Island; and Eliza Taylor from Acklins.
44th ANNUAL RED CROSS BALL
When: Saturday, January 30
Where: Melia Nassau Beach resort, Cable Beach
Time: Cocktails 7 p.m., dinner 8 p.m.
Dress: Black tie
Donation: $250
RSVP: Tel: 323-7370
Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian
