Junior League Charity Ball draws more than 300 supporters

 

story and photos by Ruby Dean
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Approximately 300 attended the Charity Ball (Nov. 20) portion of the 17th annual Holiday Market. Guests enjoyed an open bar, appetizers, dinner, entertainment and silent and live auctions. This fundraiser helps support the Junior League’s Community Projects of Adult Education Center, Children’s Emergency Shelter, Done in a Day and Kids in the Kitchen.

Dinner was served at 8 p.m., and the live auction began around 9 p.m. with items including a weekend getaway in luxury at the WJM Ranch, an ultimate go-cart for kids and cocktails and Christmas lights at the luxurious home of Sharon and Sam Sicard.

Last year’s Holiday Market was visited by about 7,000 shoppers. This year there are more vendors and organizers expect to see more attending the shopping extravaganza than last year. The Girls’ Night Out sold out this year, which is a first. The Holiday Market shopping will conclude today (Nov. 21) from noon to 5 p.m.

The Holiday Market fundraising raises up to $90,000, with about $50,000 being donated to the various charities.

Organized in 1925, The Junior Auxiliary of the Rosalie Tilles Children’s Home formed the nucleus of the organization which came to be the Fort Smith Service League, Inc. On Feb. 1, 1960, the Association of Junior Leagues of America accepted the Fort Smith Service League as a member, and the league became known as the Junior League of Fort Smith.

The league has since been involved in numerous community projects. Examples of some of these projects include assisting in the establishment of the Child-Family Guidance Center today known as Western Arkansas Counseling and Guidance Center, founding of the Children’s Theater today known as The Young Actor’s Guild, and the Adolescent Pregnancy Clinic.

The Junior League of Fort Smith is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.