Non-Profit Social Calendar: Spring-Fall 2007

BY Sheena Bateman & Christianna Kay


Wrightsville Beach Magazine’s semiannual guide to nonprofit social events on the Azalea Coast this spring summer and fall.


May 6



Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame Induction Events 2007


Hilton Wilmington Riverside



The GWSHOF will host a VIP Reception honoring its 2007 inductees which will be followed by a dinner reception and the Hall of Fame Banquet. The banquet will be hosted by ESPN college football analyst Bill Curry. Honorees will be selected from a long list of athletes coaches administrators trainers doctors members of the media and any other person that has made a significant impact on the caliber of athletics in the Greater Wilmington area. 256-6532 or
www.wilmingtonsports.com





May 4 – 6



Coastal Classic Celebrity Golf Tournament


Country Club of Landfall



The 15th annual Coastal Classic Celebrity Golf Tournament will draw dozens of celebrities to the Pete Dye course at Landfall. Since 1993 the tournament has raised more than $1.75 million for special projects supported by the foundation. This year the money raised will help New Hanover Regional Medical Center’s new Surgical Pavilion currently under construction. 815-5002 or
www.nhrmcfoundation.org.








May 12



Wrightsville Beach Challenge


Blockade Runner Dock



This sea kayak race is for intermediate to advanced kayakers only. Racers will be going throughout Banks Channel and Inlets as well as out into the Atlantic. Money raised will go to the Cape Fear Community College Boat Building Program. The program takes a hands-on educational approach to teaching the basics of boat building. 509-2989 or www.saltmarshkayak.com.








May 14



YWCA Women of Achievement Awards Dinner


Wagoner Hall UNCW



The YWCA Women of Achievement Awards is the signature event to recognize and celebrate women’s and teens’ exemplary accomplishments in southeastern North Carolina. Women and teens are recognized by notable achievements in their fields exemplary service to their communities and school and willingness to take leadership positions on issues that have an impact on the Cape Fear area. Since 1985 this event has honored 191 women and awarded college scholarships to 50 teen leaders in Brunswick Columbus New Hanover and Pender counties. 799-6820 ext. 113 or
www.ywca-lowercapefear.org.






May 19



Showboat Gambler Gala


Henrietta III Riverboat



The Showboat Gambler Gala is a creative black tie event with proceeds benefiting Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts’ ongoing programs. The evening will feature casino-style gaming wonderful live entertainment on two floors delectable food and a silent auction. Cocktails and music start in the Pavilion at 6:30 p.m. pre-boarding begins at 7:00 p.m. The boat will set sail at 7:30 p.m. and will return to the dock at 10:00 p.m.
343-4799 or www.thalianhall.com.







May 19



JDRF Hope Gala


Holiday Inn SunSpree Resort Wrightsville Beach



The fourth annual Hope Gala for the Wilmington office of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is a black tie event with proceeds assisting in finding a cure for diabetes and its complications through support of research. Since the first gala in 2004 Wilmington has raised $922 000 with the majority going to North Carolina projects at Chapel Hill and Duke. This year’s goal is to raise $350 000. The evening will feature live music live and silent auctions and honoring and presenting the “Living and Giving” Award to Rusty Carter. The theme of this year’s gala is “Everyone needs a hero” striving to find a cure and be a hero to a child with diabetes.
509-9899 or www.jdrftriangle.org.










June 2



Brunswick Festival of Life “A Southern Summer Evening”


Naber Chrysler Dodge Jeep   Highway 17 Shallotte



Lower Cape Fear Hospice Foundation presents Festival of Life “A Southern Summer Evening” featuring music hors d’oeuvres beverages silent live and Chinese auctions. Tickets are $100 per person. www.hospiceandlifecarecenter.org.










June 9



Paw Jam


Battleship Park



Now in its sixth year P.A.W.S. (Pets Are Worth Saving) of NC will once again host Paw Jam a day-long event featuring live bands arts and crafts an educational tent and plenty of food and beverages. More than 2 000 people are expected to attend and approximately $15 000 will again be raised. All the proceeds go to no-kill noprofit animal rescue groups. 232-1165 or www.pawjam.net.










June 19



Battleship Hootenanny


Battleship North Carolina



The seventh Annual Battleship Hootenanny a concert of folk and pop favorites will be held on the Fantail under the stars (or in the auditorium if inclement weather). John Golden and friends head up a fine cast of local musical groups. Tickets are $10 (cash only) at the door. Fresh popcorn and sodas available for $1 each. 251-5797 ext. 2045 or www.battleshipnc.com.










July 21



Tammy Lynn Center Fundraiser


26 Pelican Dr.



ECI Custom Homes and Development will hold the 12th annual fundraiser for the Tammy Lynn Center in Raleigh a privately funded center for handicapped children. Last year’s event brought together more than 160 guests and raised more than $10 000 for the center. (919) 441-6445










August 4



Festival of Life – Celebrating Food Wine Music and Art


Coast Line Convention Center



The third Annual Festival of Life will include wine sampling food silent and live auctions and unique entertainment. Last year’s event was sold out and raised more than $50 000 for services and programs offered by Lower Cape Fear Hospice & LifeCareCenter. 772-5444 (ext. 344) or www.hospiceandlifecarecenter.org.










August 18



Cape Fear Teddy Bear Ball


Hilton Wilmington Riverside



The Cape Fear Teddy Bear Ball is an evening that includes silent and live auctions dinner and dancing as well as appearances by special guests — patients and physicians from Duke Children’s Hospital and Health Center. A limited number of tickets is available and tables sell out quickly. Be sure to be a part of this very special gala event and contact us today. Local businesses or individuals are invited to help make miracles happen by donating items for our silent and live auctions. Donations are tax-deductible and donor names will appear in print in the evening program and also on the item’s bid board during the auction. 793-8466 or www.dukechildrens.org.










August 24



Flotilla Launch Party


Holiday Inn SunSpree Resort Wrightsville Beach



The second N.C. Holiday Flotilla Launch Party will include heavy hors d’oeuvres a live auction benefiting the Lower Cape Fear Hospice & LifeCareCenter and dancing to the tunes of Sleeping Booty. Money raised goes toward the operation of the N.C. Holiday Flotilla. 256-2120 or www.ncholidayflotilla.org.










September



“Let’s Play House!” A Benefit for Good Shepherd Center


To Be Determined



During this benefit for the Good Shepherd Center sponsors representing realtors builders attorneys mortgage companies insurance agencies and other businesses will come together to form six builder teams who will construct six different playhouses. The builder teams will unveil their playhouses during a free community event geared to families approximately a week before the gala. The “Let’s Play House” benefit will culminate in a gala event featuring dinner entertainment dancing a silent auction and the live auction of the playhouses. “Lets Play House” benefits Good Shepherd Center whose mission is to feed the hungry shelter the homeless and transition those in crisis to independence in the community. Last year’s “Last Days of Summer” Gala raised more than $60 000. 763-4424 ext. 113 or www.goodshepherdcenter.org.










September 28



Fourth Annual Black & White Ball and Art Auction


Hilton Wilmington Riverside



The Ball will be an elegant black tie event inspired by Truman Capote’s original Black & White Ball at New York’s Plaza Hotel in 1966. The event will encompass the Hilton’s entire first floor and ballroom which will be dramatically transformed with lighting and black and white decor. A cocktail hour will be followed by a seated dinner and dancing. A silent auction from 6:30 – 10:00 p.m. will feature a wide array of fine art and sculpture in addition to season tickets to cultural events museum memberships etc. Tickets to the event are $125 per person. 763-7349 or www.wilmingtondowntown.com.










September 7 – 8



Secret Garden Tour


Latimer House & other houses



The Secret Garden Tour starts at the Latimer House this year. The tour benefits the Latimer House and gardens headquarters of the Lower Cape Fear Historical Society. The Latimer House located on 3rd Street was built in 1852. 762-0492 or www.latimerhouse.org.










September 15



American Cancer
Society Hope Gala


Country Club of Landfall



The American Cancer Society Hope Gala will partner with the Wilmington-Cape Fear Homebuilders Association for its sixth year. It will include entertainment dancing and a silent auction. 799-3737 (ext. 102).










September 20



Spelling Bee for Literacy


Scottish Rite Temple 1415 S 17th St.



A fun-filled tradition Cape Fear Literacy Council’s Spelling Bee for literacy pits three-person spelling teams of adults against each other to win the coveted Bee Trophy to showcase at their office or place of business for a year. Sponsors and team members come from area businesses professionals and civic groups throughout the Cape Fear area. Local celebrity emcees spur the fun along in good-natured competition. Proceeds benefit CFLC’s adult literacy programs. 251-0911 or www.cfliteracy.org.










October Please contact DREAMS for exact date)



Seventh Annual Benefit Cabaret and Fine Art Silent Auction


Warwick Center Ballroom UNCW



This event benefits a youth development program that uses the arts to help the most marginalized youth in our community. The event includes live and silent auctions and performances by students and local artists. For those who attend the DREAMS program participation in the arts is not simply an extracurricular pastime but rather a way off the streets and into activities that are life-giving and future-building. All the proceeds from the evening go directly to allowing DREAMS to continue to meet the needs of children in the community. 772-1501 or www.dreamswilmington.org.










October 4



March of Dimes
Gourmet Chef’s Auction


Hilton Wilmington Riverside



This event will feature sample signature dishes from Wilmington’s premier restaurants and chefs. The evening will also include live and silent auctions. All proceeds from the event will benefit the March of Dimes mission — preventing birth defects and infant mortality. 452-1515.










October 5



Child Advocacy Commission Annual Gala


Country Club of Landfall



Held in the final quarter of the year the child advocacy benefit includes dinner and dancing with live music and live and silent auctions. The event raises money for at-risk children and families in an effort to find ways to prevent child abuse and neglect. Two new programs — Grandparents Support Network supporting grandparents who take in children who are not their own and the Single Mom’s Alliance which supports single moms in terms of identifying resources to help raise their children — have been started. E-mail thompsonc@childadvocacywilm.org or www.childadvocacywilm.org.










October 6



Cape Fear Mini Grand Prix


Dillard’s at Independence Mall



Get behind the wheel of your own race car at the Cape Fear Mini Grand Prix! Sponsorship packages begin at $3 500 and include your own race car to keep customize and race in this exciting event! Race teams will compete in a series of four 20-lap heats and a championship heat. This event is free to spectators and includes a Kidzone of games prizes concessions and more. It’s fun for the entire family. Please call for more information on how your business or organization can become involved. 793-8466 or www.dukechildrens.org.







October 11



Pink Ribbon Breakfast Lunch & Dinner


Holiday Inn SunSpree Resort


Wrightsville Beach



Since its inception in 1998 the Pink Ribbon Project has raised more than $600 000. Co-founded by Ali Barnard a breast cancer survivor the project brings comfort and support to women undergoing treatment for cancer by funding projects such as the Pink Ribbon comfort bags and mammograms for uninsured women through the Coastal Care Van. The 2007 event is being chaired by Sharon Chadwick. 815-5002 or www.nhrmcfoundation.org.









October 13



Historic Wilmington Foundation Annual Gala


To Be Determined



The Annual Gala and Auction is the Historic Wilmington Foundation’s largest fundraising event generating over one-third of the funds needed for the annual operating budget and for programs such as the revolving fund educational seminars and development programs. 762-2511 or www.historicwilmington.org.









October 20



Cape Fear Heart Walk


Wrightsville Beach Loop



The walk sponsored by local businesses takes place on Wrightsville Beach’s Loop. More than 1 000 walkers are expected this year to join in the fight against heart-related diseases and stroke.
794-5507.









October 19 – 20



Airlie’s Annual Oyster Roast


Airlie Gardens



The Low Country Oyster Roast benefits the Airlie Garden Environmental Education Programs. In previous years the event has raised money to construct the new Bradley Creek Pier and the forthcoming Butterfly House. The 2007 Oyster Roast will feature popular local band “The Imitations ” who will provide music to dance the night away. Butch Williams of Carolina Sunset Catering provides barbecue and oysters plentiful for everyone. Tickets are $75 and go on sale to members July 1 and the general public Aug. 1. 798-7700 or www.airliegardens.org.









October 20 – 21



Sixthth Annual Wilmington Oktoberfest


Independence Mall



The annual OKTOBERFEST is a community-wide family oriented two-day fun-filled festival with music food and free children’s activities. This event is a benefit for Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity. 762-4744 or www.capefearhabitat.org.







If you have an event you would like us to include in the next social calendar please Email details to features@wrightsvillebeachmagazine.com



Dates and locations are subject to change. Please check with the organizations closer to the event date for confirmation. ©Copyright 2007 Wrightsville Beach Magazine. May not be reproduced in any format without written permission from the publisher.