The Kosciusko County Chapter of the American Red Cross wants your blood.
Or your money.
Or both.
The Red Ball annual fundraising event for the American Red Cross will be March 14 at Tippecanoe Country Club with the theme "Give Us Your Blood Or Money." Attendees are encouraged to dress as if going to an Italian wedding or a speakeasy.
According to information from Co-chair Fran Allen, "The event will be like an Italian wedding during the Chicago mafia years. People will be dressed for a night at the speakeasy or a lively Italian wedding."
The Red Ball is the major fundraiser for the Kosciusko County Chapter of the American Red Cross each year. The event includes both live and silent auctions as well as dinner and dancing. Entertainment this year will be provided by The Marlins, and "Don Vito Corleone" is expected to make an appearance to encourage people to give to the Red Cross.
This year's Red Ball will focus on informing people about the blood program that the American Red Cross sponsors each year. All proceeds raised through the Red Ball stay in Kosciusko County to help local people.
Auction items this year range from jewelry to trips to Colts Tickets.
Bowers Jewelry donated a men's watch valued at around $850. The Wittnauer Swiss watch has 59 small diamonds around the face clockwise from about 8 o'clock to about 4 o'clock. It has a black leather band and a dark slate colored face. The watch shows the date as well as seconds on a smaller dial.
Joanne Kolbe of the Blue Pearl in Pierceton donated an antique citrine and diamond bracelet valued at approximately $1,200.
Four tickets to "Stomp" March 28 at the Morris Performing Arts Center in South Bend along with dinner at LaSalle Grille were donated by Fran and Larry Allen, David and Cheryl Blakemore and Steve and Diane McGarvey. This item is valued at $600.
Six tickets to watch the Indianapolis Colts play the New York Jets at Lucas Oil Stadium along withtransportation to and from the game in a deluxe 38-foot motorhome with a professional driver. The package also includes the Advantage Club, which offers food and drink before and after the game at the stadium. This package, valued at $2,400, was donated by Omer Kropf.
Also on the auction block will be "Fiesta Italiana - Lago Siracusa," a casual evening for eight on Syracuse Lake. This package includes antipasti, a traditional Sicilian dinner, sipping granitas and dancing on the lake. David and Kathleen Johnston, with the help of Omer Kropf and Larry and Fran Allen, donated this item.
Attendees also will be able to bid for a romantic dinner for two at Fusion, Warsaw.
Invitations for the event were sent out in February, but tickets may be purchased until March 9 by calling the Red Cross at 574-267-5244. Donations also may be made to the Kosciusko County Chapter of the American Red Cross by calling the same number.
Along with Fran Allen and her husband Larry Allen, the co-chairs for this year's event are Tony and Sylvia Aguirre and Pete and Peg Lieffring. Committee members involved in the event are Bill and Susan Allen, Jack and Tana Birch, David and Cheryl Blakemore, Toby and Donna Buck, Robert and Brenda Chambers, Syl and Allison Champoux, Brian and Jill DeBatty, David and Lisa Floyd, Steve and Lisa Fulton, Bruce and Jeanne Grossnickle, Steve and Lori Grossnickle, Dan and Pam Hann, Thom and Zoe Howard, Dean and Carol Lyn Jansen, David and Kathleen Johnston, Mike and Rebecca Kubacki, Scott and Felicity Lennox, Steve and Diane McGarvey, Curtis and Kim Meyer, Dane and Mary Louise Miller, Charles and Lois Niemier, Larry and Marsha Peppel, Ramsey and Cheryl Blanchard-Railsback, Cody Silva and Katie Kubacki, Robert Smith and Joan Szynal, Mike and Cathy Suhany, Larry and Kathy Teghtmeyer, Jeff and Pam Thornburgh and Chandler and Erin Williams.
