Women’s Board of Akron Children's to host 118th Charity Ball on Dec. 29

11-15-2021 (Akron, Ohio )

The 118th Charity Ball and 70th presentation of the debutantes, presented by the Women’s Board of Akron Children’s, will take place at E.J. Thomas Hall in downtown Akron from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021. All proceeds benefit Akron Children’s. 

Thirty-three 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 would continue with future generations.   

This year’s debutantes graduated in either 2020 or 2021 and attended Archbishop Hoban High School, Copley High School, Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, Firestone High School, Hathaway Brown, Highland High School, Hudson High School, Independence High School, Revere High School, Saint Vincent Saint Mary, Walsh Jesuit High School, or Western Reserve Academy. 

Barbara Varley chairs this year’s event and has taken special care to ensure that all participants enjoy the evening while still following CDC, Ohio Department of Health and Akron Children's guidelines to remain healthy. As a result, this year’s event features the presentation of debutantes, and dinner will not be served.  

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 organization 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 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 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.   

The Akron Children’s 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, Canton Video, Creative Motion Studios, Northcoast Theatrical, Savior-Faire, Special Productions, The Stationery Shop and Visualizations Photography.  

As of Nov. 15, the 2021 Charity Ball has received support from Gold Sponsor Kyle and Missy Cheney/Deloitte & Touche LLP; Silver Sponsor Hanna, Campbell & Powell, LLP; Bronze Sponsors Hasenstab Architects, Inc., J.W. Didado Electric, Dr. Joseph and Barbara Varley; and Other Sponsors EYEMG.com, 1st American Courier, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Altman, Michael and Lisa Marchetta, David Rutledge and Nancy Grau Rutledge, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Stalter and Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Tipping.