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On the weekend following Memorial Day, Baltimore Avenue was filled with
people dressed in black
and white, intent on making their way through the crowded Saturday night
streets to the Atlantic Sands Ballroom-and that included Delaware
Governor Ruth Ann Minner.
It
was, of course, the site of The Black and White Beach Ball, the second
annual Founder’s Circle event for the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center
Project.
“The
event was more than just a fundraiser,” says CAMP Rehoboth Board
President Murray Archibald. ”It was a way for us to say thank you to
all those who have become members of the Founder’s Circle. With the
addition of the pledges raised during the event,” he says, “we are
almost to $300,000 of the million we hope to raise in the coming
years.”
Addressing
the more than 300 guests at the event, Murray reminded everyone that
each year during the capital campaign they would cut a ribbon in one of
the colors of the rainbow. In 2001 a red ribbon was cut, this year the
Governor cut the second ribbon-an orange one.
Murray
also announced that CAMP Rehoboth had closed on the purchase of the
property at 39 Baltimore Avenue, the site of its current office. “We
now have a permanent place upon which to build our home,” he said with
much excitement.
In
her message, Governor Ruth Ann Minner reminded the crowd of the mission
of the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center Project to be an inclusive space
and a focal point for connecting
people, activities, and resources, and to embrace diversity as an
essential component. She spoke about tolerance, especially in the wake
of the September eleventh tragedy.
“Tolerance,”
she said, “is extremely important whether we’re discussing a country
at war or building a community center that will bring each and every one
of you in this room tonight together-gay, straight, black, white,
married, single, Christian, or atheist. We should all be proud of each
other and proud of what’s being done to build the CAMP Rehoboth
Community Center.”
The
evening ended with The HEART of the Commu-nity Art Auction-fifteen
pieces of art created especially for the event-which added an additional
$24,000 to the Community Center Project.
All
of the art created for the auction is now available as a boxed set of
greeting cards. The beautifully designed boxes were unveiled at The
Black and White Beach Ball, along with all the paintings. “It was very
exciting Murray says, “to see a series of paintings created around a
theme-and now everyone can enjoy them, and support the center as
well.”
“One
of the main functions of The Black and White Beach Ball was to focus
attention on the Community Center Project.” Murray says, “The
evening was a great success. Our thanks to all who are working to make
this dream a reality.“
Anyone
interested in becoming a member of the Founder’s Circle or receiving
information about the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center Project should call
CAMP Rehoboth at 302-227-5620.
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