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RIM REVIEW • JANUARY 16, 2013
COVER STORY - TERESA MCQUERREY
Alexis Bechman photos
Sonoran Swing (above) will once again provide the big band sounds for dancing at the Black & White Ball. Pat Graser (below), a longtime hospital auxiliary member, dips a strawberry into the chocolate fountain at a previous event.
Black & White Ball lets Rim Country to put on the glitz
Razzmatazz
Get out the glitz — it’s time for the annual Black & White Ball. This year it’s a Chicago-style celebration. Gangster garb anyone? “Our annual Black & White Ball takes its theme from the history of the third largest city in the United States — Chicago (the Windy City, that Toddlin’ Town), host to 200 parades each year, home to the Cubs and the Bulls, and infamous Prohibition era gangsters,” said Sanja Long, executive director of Mogollon Health Alliance. “Chicago is where the blues became electric. It is the city of invention: steel frame skyscrapers, roller skates, the Twinkie, the window envelope and spray paint to name a few,” she said. Long invites participants to don formal attire or dress in a period costume from the days of gangsters, tommy guns and flappers — a time when speakeasies abounded, hemlines shortened for a new style of dance, dashing federal agents chased bad guys. The MHA will present its big, beautiful benefit Saturday, Jan. 26 at the Mazatzal Hotel & Casino Event Center. This year beneficiaries will be the Rim Country Educational Foundation as well as MHA. Participants
will make a difference for education and health. The RCEF is dedicated to funding the pre-development expenses required to facilitate the purchase of approximately 260 acres of U.S. Forest Service property south of East Highway 260 in Payson, which has been identified as the primary site for a university campus complex, research park and conference center. The silent auction proceeds from the 2013 Black & White Ball will go to the RCEF. This part of the event has raised between $4,000 and $7,000 for a designated charity in each of the past several years. Individuals and businesses interested in making auction donations may contact MHA at (928) 472-2588. Organizers ask that contributions for the silent auction be made by Friday, Jan. 18. “We are delighted to name RCEF as the beneficiary of the 2013 silent auction. I can’t imagine a more important project for our entire community than bringing a university to Payson,” said Long. The mission of MHA is to promote rural health care and health education opportunities for members of the community through programs, activities, grants and scholarships. The evening will feature the big band sound by Sonoran Swing with vocals by Mary Gilbert and MHA’s own Gary Cordell, vice president of its board of directors. The 6 p.m. dinner includes a choice of prime rib or baked ziti with chicken and pasta primavera, salad, twice-baked potatoes, bread and what casino culinary experts promise will be a dazzling dessert.
Tickets may be purchased through Wednesday, Jan. 23 from MHA. The cost is $200 per individual or $1,500 for a table seating eight. Call (928) 472-2588 for more information. Bronze sponsors for the evening are Stellar Capital Management and APS.