After hosting The Holly Ball for a half century, the Auxiliary to United Hospital Center is starting a new wintertime fundraising tradition.

 

The opportunity to slip into formal attire and dance the night away will still exist, but from now on the soiree will be held after the Christmas season.

 

“We’re currently in the process of sending out save-the-date cards for our new winter ball – this year to be held Jan. 14,” said Denise Steffich, director of volunteer services for the Auxiliary to UHC. “It will be held at the Robert H. Mollohan Exhibition Center at the High Tech Consortium on I-79 with catering by Muriale’s and music by Santa Cruz.”

 

Co-chairing the dinner/dance will be Toma Courtney and Krysta Fazalare. The ladies have some clever tricks up their sleeves to make it a night to relax and have fun, Steffich said.

 

“We just decided to try something new and we’re working on some new ideas. It’s still going to be a ball with dancing and dinner but we’re working on some new ideas to appeal to the younger crowd,” she said. “We talked to people and they said that having the Holly Ball right before Christmas was so stressed.”

Most importantly, the event will still serve as a fundraiser for the auxiliary and be utilized by UHC.

 

“This year, proceeds will go to drug addicted babies,” Steffich said. “Part of the money last year also was used toward a developing a rehabilitation program for moms and babies. We want to be proactive, look at a new way of doing things and raise money for that important program.”

 

In addition to pediatrics, proceeds from last year’s Holly Ball – which wrapped up and celebrated 50 years of hosting the event – was also utilized by the cancer and obstetrics departments of UHC.

 

More details will be released about the Jan. 14 event as they become available.