Sell-out fundraiser brings in $93,000 for Clay Center and The Charleston Ballet

Release Date: 2/3/2012 9:00:00 AM

Dateline (city): Charleston, W. Va.

Contact:
304-561-3586

A sell-out crowd of about 500 people packed the Clay Center for Carnaval Rio, a Brazilian-themed fundraising event that raised more than $93,000 for the education programs of the Clay Center and The Charleston Ballet.

Attendees dressed in festive attire and elaborate masks enjoyed exotic food and drink and exciting entertainment throughout the Clay Center, including an intimate performance by Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr.

The Charleston Ballet, fire eater and strolling entertainer Jill Klein Rone, street performer Jude Binder, psychic Jerry Lee, a steel drum ensemble and a Zumba dance troupe also entertained guests. Big Ray and the Kool Kats – a favorite band of past Kennedy Center galas and last year’s inaugural Carnevale – capped off the evening with music and dancing.

Clay Center president and CEO Judy Wellington said the success of the second-year event speaks to the benevolent spirit of the community.

“Our goal was to make this year’s event bigger and better than the last, and we could not have done so without the generous support of so many people,” she said. “We can’t thank everyone enough for helping make Carnaval Rio the hottest ticket in town.”

Carnaval Rio was organized by Friends of Clay Center and was a collaboration between the Clay Center and The Charleston Ballet. The event was made possible by generous contributions from Jackson Kelly PLLC, Energize WV with Natural Gas and many other sponsors.

Friends of Clay Center board member Reenie Keeley said the volunteer group rallied around the cause.

“Our members devoted countless hours to the planning and execution of this event because they knew something important would happen as a result of their efforts,” she said. “Helping children across the region experience the joy and value of art and science education is something we all can support with great enthusiasm.”

Money raised from Carnaval Rio will help students throughout West Virginia and in neighboring states learn about the arts and sciences through school field trips, outreach presentations and distance learning programs.

For more information on the Clay Center and The Charleston Ballet, visit www.theclaycenter.org and www.thecharlestonballet.com.