12-01-2022 (Akron, Ohio )
The 119th Charity Ball and 71st presentation of the debutantes, presented by the Women’s Board of Akron Children’s Hospital, will take place at E.J. Thomas Hall in downtown Akron from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022. All proceeds benefit Akron Children’s Hospital.
Twenty-one debutantes will be presented at the annual cotillion in recognition of their parents’ and grandparents’ volunteerism and philanthropy to the local community in the hopes that the tradition will continue with future generations.
“The Charity Ball is a long-standing tradition for many in our area, and we are pleased to celebrate the debutantes and their families’ commitment to making the communities where we live a better place,” said Denise Schaffner, who chairs this year’s event.
To continue the commitment of service demonstrated by their families, the debutantes participated in a service project of their own, volunteering for Project Linus. The national nonprofit makes and donates blankets to children in the hospital or others in need. This year’s debutantes spent an evening making blankets for Akron Children’s patients.
The Akron Children’s Hospital Women’s Board Charity Ball Committee supports local businesses and is pleased to present E.J. Thomas Hall in its finest light. This includes Cardinal Parking, Creative Motion Studios, Northcoast Theatrical, Savior-Faire, Special Productions, The Stationery Shop, Visualizations Photography and Wilson Video
As of Nov. 18, the 2022 Charity Ball has received sponsorships from the following: Silver Sponsors are Kyle and Missy Cheney, Leland and Mary Cole Charitable Fund, Elizabeth and Fuad Khayyat, William and Julia Papouras, and Kevin and Denise Schaffner. Bronze sponsors are Hanna, Campbell and Powell, LLC, Hasenstab Architects Inc., Ed and Jennifer Kuchar, Stan and Anne Milovancev, Pleasant Valley Corporation and the Ruhlin Company.
The first Mary Day Nursery Ball, held on Dec. 18, 1895, was a gala to raise money for the nursery and kindergarten. The third ball, in 1897, was renamed the “Charity Ball” and has remained a community tradition. Except for an eight-year hiatus in the early years and in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Charity Ball continued through both World Wars. In 1951, the presentation of the debutantes was added to highlight Akron’s future community leaders.
If you’re interested in attending the 119th Charity Ball, contact Amy Bowers at 330-958-3959. Tickets are $200.
