West Hartford’s gala event of the year, which supports the Town That Cares Fund and Playhouse on Park, will be held under the grande tent at Town Hall on May 14, 2016.

The 2016 Mayor’s Charity Ball will be held on May 14, 2016. Submitted photo

By Ronni Newton

Plans are well underway for the West Hartford’s premier black tie fundraiser to support community non-profit organizations. The Mayor’s Charity Ball is a 501(c)(3) organization and this year will benefit The Town That Cares Fund as well as Playhouse on Park, two local organizations that rely heavily on the support and generosity of donors.

“I am so excited to be a part of this wonderful organization. I will be heading up the marketing and PR for the Ball and I hope that I can help to increase the support and generosity that we currently receive from our community,” said Jeannette Punsoni Dardenne.

Tickets are now on sale, with an early bird discount of $1,620 for tables of 10 purchased by April 14, 2016. The regular ticket price is $180 per person. Tickets can be purchased by clicking here.

The Mayor’s Charity Ball committee is also pleased to announce that AthenaHealthCareSystems is the Presenting Sponsor for this year’s gala. Event Sponsors are Max Catering Events and Taylor Rental of Manchester; Gold Sponsors are Cantor Colburn LLP and Arcadia Crossing; and Silver Sponsors are Hoffman and Plymouth Spring Company Inc.

The committee is currently looking for additional sponsors to help make this year’s ball a success.

Mayor’s Charity Ball Executive Board President Lou Luba said that the event “provides critical funding to support two diverse non-profit organizations that meet all the essential needs of the community.”

The Town That Cares Fund supports the basic needs of low-income West Hartford residents though financial assistance, crisis intervention and prevention programs when other resources are not available. Some of the programs highlighted by Luba include the West Hartford Food Pantry, emergency home heating assistance, Thanksgiving food distribution, and the “Back to School” program.

“The Playhouse on Park fills an equally significant role by feeding the cultural needs of West Hartford and the larger central Connecticut community. The Playhouse on Park is a unique, critically acclaimed and renowned professional theatre that strives to provide high caliber entertainment at an affordable cost to the community. The Playhouse offers a diverse cultural experience, encompassing plays, musicals, comedy nights, improv, children’s shows and dance, as well as recognized educational outreach programs (for both children and adults) capitalizing on the visiting and resident artists and educators,” Luba said.

As a non-profit theater, the Playhouse on Park relies on charitable donations, sponsorships, and fundraisers like the Mayor’s Charity Ball to cover more than 50 percent of its operating expenses.

For more information about sponsorship, tickets, and event details, visit www.themayorscharityball.org.