Charity Ball is a phrase I have been hearing since middle school. My sister would tell me all of her worries and wins that she faced during fundraising season when she was on student council and listening to her made me want to join student council so I could help make a difference in the community around me.
When I joined freshman year, I was so excited to be a part of a group that I have heard so much about since I was a tween. Being a member of logistics made me realize that a lot of work goes into planning Charity Ball; from the food and drinks that are going to be served to the decorations that are going to be in the donor room and around the museum, a lot of time and effort goes into planning this dance that has been long awaited. It really confirms how much Charity Ball is a student-led organization.
I remember that in the last few weeks before Charity Ball last year, people were working hard to bring in some last-minute donations, publicizing information, and making sure that everything was going to run smoothly the day of the dance. As our Big 5 approached the stairs to reveal the check for Southeast Raleigh Promise, the room was overflowing with excitement and impatience. As the sheath was removed from the check to show the crowd that we had raised $207,000 to help end intergenerational poverty, the room was filled with smiles, pride, and a sense of amazement. Personally, when I heard that we raised $207K it made me realize that our hard work and time made that possible. I’m looking forward to experiencing that same feeling this year for our beneficiary, Haven House.
Neha Pothireddy
Standing Committee Officer