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Red & Black Ball raises nearly $82,000 for youth

The Family YMCA receives windfall for Española and Los Alamos teen centers.
April 4, 2016
From left: LANL Government Affairs Office Director Patrick Woehrle, LANL Community Programs Office Director Kathy Keith, Laboratory Director Charles McMillan, and Janet McMillan were among those present at the Red & Black Ball. Photo: Sylvan Argo.

From left: LANL Government Affairs Office Director Patrick Woehrle, LANL Community Programs Office Director Kathy Keith, Laboratory Director Charles McMillan, and Janet McMillan were among those present at the Red & Black Ball. Photo: Sylvan Argo

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Themed “Out of Los Alamos, Into Africa,” ball attendees were encouraged to dress for the occasion—or at the very least, to wear black and red.

The Family YMCA receives windfall for teen centers 

The Family YMCA won $5,050 in about half an hour at Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino on March 19—but not because its board members were lucky on the slot machines. Rather, that money was the result of a very successful live auction at that evening’s Red & Black Ball.

The annual event, now in its 16th year, raises funds to support The Family YMCA’s financial aid and scholarship program, youth programs, and the teen centers in Los Alamos and Española.

In addition to the live auction proceeds, approximately $4,800 was raised in a silent auction, $3,600 was raised in a raffle, and $68,250 was raised through ticket sales and table sponsorships to the event. (More than 200 people attended the ball, most of who had seats at tables purchased by area businesses, such as Los Alamos National Security, LLC.) In total, the event grossed $81,696.

Red and Black Ball

Michelangelo Lobato (Counselor at Chamisa School and Y volunteer), Chandra Marsden (LANL scientist and Y volunteer), and George Marsden (the Y’s Los Alamos Teen Center Assistant Director) enjoy a night out at the Red & Black Ball.

“The Red & Black Ball is our major fundraiser for the Y’s financial aid program and subsidized youth programs—which includes the Española YMCA Teen Center,” says Linda Daly, CEO and Executive Director of The Family YMCA, noting that last year 712 (unduplicated) kids visited the teen center. “That’s more than 700 kids off the streets, engaged in positive activities with caring adults and mentors—activities such as audio engineering, music recording, robotics, cooking, gardening, tae kwon do, carpentry, sports, and free tutoring support.”

Themed “Out of Los Alamos, Into Africa,” ball attendees were encouraged to dress for the occasion—or at the very least, to wear black and red. “My husband and I loved having the opportunity to get dressed up and have a night out,” says Los Alamos resident Krissy Haynes, who showed up in a leopard-print cocktail dress and matching heels.

Haynes also purchased three raffle tickets for a chance to win a stay at a condo in Hawaii—which she did. “I believe The Family YMCA is a great cause, and the raffle was a great way to give to our community,” she says. “I never thought in a million years I would win such an amazing trip.”

Community Connections features news and opportunities that grow out of the Laboratory’s Good Neighbor Pledge: “To partner with our neighbors on strengthening math and science learning, diversifying the economy and expanding community giving in Northern New Mexico.”

April 2016