Spring Flings: Nonprofit Social Calendar

The GWSHOF will host a black-tie VIP reception honoring its 2008 inductees — Linwood Wray Carlton Hoss Ellington Cathy Johnson-Forbes George Buck Hardee and Clyde Simmons all of whom were selected from a long list of athletes coaches administrators trainers doctors members of the media and other individuals who made a significant impact on the caliber of athletics in the Greater Wilmington area. The reception will be followed by the Hall of Fame Banquet. Television sportscaster Don Shea will be the master of ceremonies. The GWSHOF golf tournament will be held on Monday May 5 at Echo Farms Golf & Country Club with a shotgun start at noon. For more information call Carolyn Strickland at (910) 343-3066 or visit www.gwilmingtonsportshof.com.

Salt Marsh Kayak’s annual kayak challenge is a competition for intermediate to advanced kayakers only. Kayakers will paddle throughout Banks Channel and inlets as well as out into the Atlantic. The event kicks off at 11:30 a.m. and all proceeds go toward scholarships for the Cape Fear Community College Boat Building Program — one of the most unique programs of its kind on the East Coast. For more information or to enter visit www.saltmarshkayak.com or call (910) 509-2989.

This year’s Red Cross Ball will mark the 100th anniversary of the Cape Fear Chapter of the Red Cross. The black-tie event begins at sunset and a full night of fun and fundraising will include live and silent auctions to support disaster relief projects. For more information visit www.arccapefear.org  or contact Melissa Boehling at (910) 762-2683.

The 5th annual Hope Gala for the Wilmington office of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is a black-tie event that supports research in finding a cure for diabetes and its complications. Since the first Gala in 2004 the Wilmington community has raised $1.3 million for this important cause. The organization is now funding $7.4 million worth of projects at North Carolina universities: UNC Chapel Hill North Carolina State Wake Forest and Duke. The evening will feature a cocktail reception and dinner party live and silent auctions and the presentation of the “Living and Giving” Award to Henry Hawthorne a local pediatrician with Wilmington Children’s Clinic who has graciously served the community for 36 years. The theme of this year’s gala is “Imagine: Life Without Diabetes” and promises to be a whimsical evening of hope. For more information visit www.jdrftriangle.org or call (910) 509-9899.

The annual Clubs for Kids tournament including a workshop for children in the morning and an adult shotgun start tournament in the afternoon raises money for at-risk children and families in an effort to prevent child abuse and neglect. The Child Advocacy and Parenting Place Exchange Club Center offers educational outreach and community support for parents and those who care for children. For more information visit www.childadvocacy.org or contact Karin MacKinnon at (910) 791-1057 ext. 26.

The YWCA Women of Achievement Awards is the signature event recognizing and celebrating women’s and teens’ exemplary accomplishments in southeastern North Carolina. Honorees will be recognized for notable achievements in their fields exemplary service to their communities and schools 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. For more information visit www.ywca-lowercapefear.org or call (910) 799-6820 ext. 120.

In its seventh year P.A.W.S. (Pets Are Worth Saving) of North Carolina will once again host Paw Jam an all-day event featuring live entertainment pet-related vendors and contests arts crafts and plenty of food and beverages. Several thousand people are expected to attend this always popular event. Last year more than $10 000 was raised to support local nonprofit animal rescue groups. Entrance fee for humans is $5 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and $10 from 6 p.m. until 9. All leashed pets get in for free. For more information visit www.pawjam.net or call (910) 232-1165.

The eighth Annual Battleship Hootenanny a concert featuring local folk and pop favorites including John Golden and friends will take place on the ship’s fantail beneath the stars. In the case of inclement weather festivities will move into the auditorium. Tickets are $10 (cash only) at the door and do not include a tour of the ship. Snacks and sodas will be available. All proceeds benefit Friends of the Battleship a nonprofit organization that supports the battleship’s preservation. For more information visit www.battleshipnc.com or call (910) 251-5797 ext. 2045.

The Lower Cape Fear Hospice Foundation presents Festival of Life an evening featuring music hors d’oeuvres beverages and silent and live auctions. Tickets are $100 per person. For more information visit www.hospiceandlifecarecenter.org or call (910) 754-5356.

The third 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. All funds go toward the operation of the N.C. Holiday Flotilla. For more information visit www.ncholidayflotilla.org or call (910) 256-2120.

This event will feature a gala dinner entertainment dancing and a live auction of eco-friendly items. The block party 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 “Playhouse Block Party” raised more than $60 000. For more information visit www.goodshepherdwilmington.org or call (910) 763-4424 ext. 113.

For the second year in a row this grand black-tie gala will feature food tastings from local chefs and restaurants as well as live and silent auction packages. Awards will be given to participants for best food in different categories. Last year this event raised $40 000 and later received a donation of $50 000 from an anonymous donor who was moved by the cause! Tables of 10 are available for $1 000 and may be purchased in advance by calling event chair Missy Sumrell at (910) 793-6343 ext. 10 or (910) 264-9222 or by calling Regina R. Hawse development officer Methodist Home for Children at (910) 383-6296 or (910) 471-6088.

The American Cancer Society’s seventh annual Hope Gala raises money to support the fight against cancer in New Hanover County. Live entertainment will be provided by Groove Town and this always popular event will feature dancing gaming tables and live and silent auctions. For more information call (910) 254-4870.

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 include area businesses professionals and civic groups throughout the Cape Fear region. Local celebrity emcees encourage good-natured competition and keep the laughs coming. Proceeds benefit CFLC’s adult literacy programs. For more information visit www.cfliteracy.org or call (910) 251-0911.

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. For more information visit www.latimerhouse.org or call (910) 762-0492.

Enjoy an elegant evening of fun including dinner as well as live and silent auctions featuring a wide array of gifts from fine art to exclusive tickets to shows and local events. For ticket sales or more information visit www.wilmingtondowntown.com or call (910) 763-7349.

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 Moms’ Alliance which supports single moms in terms of identifying resources to help raise their children — have been started. For more information visit www.childadvocacy.org or call (910) 791-1057.

This event will feature sample signature dishes from Wilmington’s premier restaurants and chefs as well as live and silent auctions. All proceeds will benefit the March of Dimes mission — preventing birth defects and infant mortality. For more information call (910) 452-1515.

The Annual Gala and Auction is the Historic Wilmington Foundation’s largest fundraising event generating more than one-third of the funds needed for the annual operating budget and for programs such as the revolving fund educational seminars and development programs. For more information visit www.historicwilmington.org or call (910) 762-2511.

Join us for a night of fabulous entertainment phenomenal artwork and epicurean delights to benefit DREAMS a nationally award-winning nonprofit dedicated to providing children in need with high-quality free-of-charge classes in the creative visual and performing arts. The evening will showcase performances by some of our community’s most gifted musicians including the youth who participate in the program. Don’t miss our silent auction featuring an incredible array of items from local artists businesses and of course DREAMS students. Call 772-1501 or email dreamscenter@ec.rr.com for more information.

Get behind the wheel of your own race car at the Cape Fear Mini Grand Prix and help raise money for Duke Children’s Hospital. Sponsorship packages begin at $3 500 and include your own race car to keep customize and race in this exciting event. Race teams compete in a series of four 20-lap heats and a championship heat. The event is free to spectators and includes a Kids Zone of games prizes concessions and more. Please call to learn how your business or organization can become involved. For more information visit www.dukechildrens.org or call (910) 793-8466.

Since its inception in 1998 the Pink Ribbon Project has raised more than $850 000. 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 event includes breakfast at 8 a.m. lunch at 11 and dinner at 6:30 p.m. with a featured speaker at each meal. Last year more than $152 000 was raised. The 2008 event is being chaired by Sandy Speirs. For more information visit www.nhrmcfoundation.org or call (910) 815-5002.

This black-tie event commemorates the 150th Anniversary of Thalian Hall. The evening’s entertainment will include a concert performance by Linda Lavin and other celebrity guests. Hors d’oeuvres and a full dinner will be provided. A party reception will follow the evening’s concert. For more information call (910) 343-4799.

The Low Country Oyster Roast benefits the Airlie Garden Environmental Education Programs. The 2008 Oyster Roast will support the phase two construction of a Butterfly House at Airlie Gardens. The event will feature popular local band The Imitations and as has become an Airlie Oyster Roast tradition there will be dancing all night long. Butch Williams of Carolina Sunset Catering will provide barbeque and oysters plentiful for everyone. Last year was a sold-out event. Tickets are available for $75. For more information visit www.airliegardens.org or call (910) 798-7700.

The seventh annual OKTOBERFEST is a community-wide family-oriented two-day fun-filled festival with music food and free children’s activities. This event benefits the Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity. For more information visit www.capefearhabitat.org or call (910) 762-4744.

The walk sponsored by local businesses will take place on the Loop. More than 1 000 walkers are anticipated this year to join in the fight against strokes and heart-related diseases. For more information call (910) 794-5507.

If your 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization has an event you would like WBM to include in the November 2008 issue’s Nonprofit 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 2008 Wrightsville Beach Magazine. May not be reproduced in any format without written permission from the publisher.