Two dozen winners took home cash and a variety of prizes in the 27th annual McClaugherty Raffle to benefit the Clay Center and West Virginia Symphony Orchestra. This year’s Raffle brought in $50,000 to be divided evenly between the organizations.
An eager crowd filled the art gallery for an exciting drawing party featuring free hors d’oeuvres prepared by Embassy Suites Hotel-Charleston and complimentary wine provided by The Liquor Company. Prizes were awarded throughout the evening by Clay Center board member Andy Teeter.
The complete list of winners and ticket sellers includes:
$10,000 cash grand prize - winner: Brad Rowe, seller: Rob Rosano
$2,500 cash - winner: Jim Thomas, seller: Andy Teeter
$1,000 cash - winner: Steve Ellis, seller: Andy Teeter
$500 cash - winner: Bill Signorelli, seller: Dee Rumbaugh
$100 cash (ten total) - winners: Linda Morris, Kay Goodwin, Patricia Groom, Allan McVey, Todd Loehnert, Gail Carter, Donna Noland, Josh Weshart, Jim Sutherland and Pat Strickland, sellers: Kathy Bush-Morris, Sallie McClaugherty, Andy Teeter, Missy Rubin, Brian Noland, Gabriele Wohl, Reed Spangler and John Strickland
Four grounds badges to 2012 Greenbrier Classic - winner: David Paul, sellers: Betsy & John Chapman
Two WVSO 2011-12 Grand Series Tickets courtesy of West Virginia Symphony Orchestra - winner: James Ross, seller: Sallie McClaugherty
Two Fall 2012 Clay Center Presents Season Tickets courtesy of Clay Center - winner: Mary McLaughlin, seller: Sallie McClaugherty
Two Spring 2013 Clay Center Presents Season Tickets courtesy of Clay Center - winner: Mark Kelley, seller: Mark Troy
Golf for two at The Resort at Glade Springs - winner: Archie Chestnut, seller: Andy Teeter
Photography session and DVD courtesy of Josh Nibert Photography - winner: Pat Bibbee, seller: Diane Doty
One pizza per month for a year courtesy of Pies & Pints - winner: Paul Ayers, seller: Andy Teeter
One chocolate treat per month for a year courtesy of Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory - winner: Richard Corey, seller: Jeb Corey
Sterling silver opal earrings courtesy of Scott Petit - Petit Jewelry Designs, winner: Cara Flanery, seller: Shawn Flanery
One ice cream treat per month for a year courtesy of Ellen’s Homemade Ice Cream - winner: Amy Scruggs, seller: John Strickland
Nearly 100 volunteers, led by Raffle chairs and Friends of Clay Center board members Sarah Brown and Gabriele Wohl, helped organize the event and sell about 730 tickets. Employees of Arnett & Foster, PLLC donated their time for Raffle administration.
Thank you to everyone who helped make Carnaval Rio an amazing success!
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.