05-10-2006This year’s Red Ball themed “Mardi Gras” raised more than $49,000, before expenses, for the local Red Cross.
Co-chairs Kristen Elliott, Cheryl Blakemore and Fran Allen emceed the event, and Larry Peppel, executive director of the Kosciusko County Chapter of the American Red Cross, gave the invocation.
Peppel introduced Anna Cabrera, a Hurricane Katrina double-evacuee. She, her husband and children evacuated from New Orleans, La., to Houston, Texas, with her mother, three siblings and their spouses and children. The group later had to evacuate Houston, coming to the Warsaw area. The Red Cross provided initial housing, then helped them find homes, jobs and other necessities. Cabrera thanked the Red Cross for their help during this difficult time.
Prior to dinner, Al Disbro took photos of everyone in their Mardi Gras attire. The photos will be mailed to attendees.
Silent auction items sold included: dining at the Cerulean at Village at Winona, donated by Dan and Pamela Hann; a Pottery Bayou Party for eight, a ceramic painting party, donated by Mr. and Mrs. David Blakemore; a Dean & Deluca Spice Basket donated by Jeff and Pam Thornburgh and Tom and Holly Tuttle; Lasik or eye lid surgery by Grossnickle Eye Center; “The Grill that Goes Anywhere” from Teghtmeyer Ace Hardware; a fine dining experience at Joseph Decuis, donated by Thom and Zoe Howard; “A Taste of New Orleans,” culinary treasures from New Orleans’ famous gathering spots, provided by Scott and Felicity Lennox; a necklace by Jude from Van Meter Jewelry and Gift Store; season tickets for the Wagon Wheel Theatre, donated by Ramada Plaza; down-filled king-sized comforter and pillows from Maple Leaf Farms; Rascal Flatts tickets for two, by Randall and Vicky Cory; “Super Duper Picnic Cooler” from Larry and Fran Allen; and four midfield, lower-level tickets to the pre-season NFL game with the Seattle Seahawks at Indianapolis Colts, provided by Todd and Paulette Davis, including an overnight stay.
The live auction kicked off with Kevin Deardorff as this year’s auctioneer. Items in the live auction were: the white and canary diamond necklace from Allen Design, donated by Bill and Susan Allen; “Chicago Theater Extravaganza” that included tickets for two to see “Movin’ Out,” with music by Billy Joel and choreography by Twyla Tharp, at the auditorium Theatre, drinks and hors d’oeuvres at the Encore Lounge, and a stay at the downtown Marriott with room service, donated by Mr. and Mrs. Larry Teghtmeyer, Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Ferguson and Mr. and Mrs. David Montgomery; “Low Country Boil” party for 10 at Omer Kropf’s Syracuse Lake home, with a traditional southern-style boil, tennis, boating and an evening fire on the deck, donated by Kropf and Mr. and Mrs. David Johnston; and two tickets in the sixth row to the Faith Hill and Tim McGraw Concert July 12 in Indianapolis, with overnight stay at the four-star Omni Severin Hotel, tickets donated by Mr. and Mrs. Mike Kubacki, and hotel by Dr. and Mrs. Larry Allen.
This year’s Red Ball committee included: co-chairpersons Dr. and Mrs. Larry Allen, Mr. and Mrs. David Blakemore and Mr. and Mrs. Matt Elliott; Mr. and Mrs. Bill Allen, Mr. and Mrs. Toby Buck, Dr. and Mrs. Randall Cory, Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Ferguson, Dr. and Mrs. Bruce Grossnickle, Dr. and Mrs. Steve Grossnickle, Dan and Dr. Pamela Hann, Dr. and Mrs. Thom Howard, Mr. and Mrs. Mike Kubacki, Omer Kropf, Mr. and Mrs. Scott Lennox, Mr. and Mrs. J. Randolph Lowe, Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Luchenbill, Dr. and Mrs. Dane Miller, Mr. and Mrs. Tony Miller, Mr. and Mrs. David Montgomery, Mr. and Mrs. Larry Peppel, Mr. and Mrs. Larry Teghtmeyer, Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Thornburgh, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Tuttle II, Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Walston, Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Westover and Mr. and Mrs. Chandler Williams.