WEIRTON - Members of the Rotary Club of Weirton and their guests had a ball Saturday as part of the eighth-annual Black and White Ball Gala, held in an effort to continue support for the club's local charities.
Attendees were welcomed into Williams Country Club to eat, socialize and hit the dance floor, as the Groove Doctors played a variety of music.
Club President JoAnn Babela said the event allows the Rotary Club of Weirton to continue supporting the Weirton Youth Soccer League, Weirton Salvation Army, Boy Scouts of America, the Weirton United Way and Polio Plus - a program initiated by Rotary International as a way to eradicate polio from the world. In addition, the club sent shelter boxes to Haiti and Peru for the earthquake victims.
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Angelina Dickson
CELEBRATION — The Rotary Club of Weirton hosted the Black and White Ball Gala Saturday at Williams Country Club. Incoming club President Mike Gianni showed off some YMCA dance moves, reliving the glory of a past gala, while sitting with family and friends. All the proceeds raised from the event will be used for local charities, including scholarships for four high school students.
The club also works to contribute to the continued education of selected students from the area.
"Each year with the help and support from our community, we are able to present one senior from each of the four local high schools with a $1,500 scholarship," said Babela. "We are even donating a portion of our proceeds to the West Virginia Northern Community College expansion project."
Babela said a special thanks went to each of the major sponsors for the event - First Choice America Community Federal Credit Union; Weirton Geriatric Center; Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort; and Open MRI of Steubenville. She also thanked Rhonda Quattrochi for assistance in planning and organizing the event along with the remaining sponsors, advertisers and those in attendance.
"Without your support, events like this would not be able to continue," she said.
The total amount raised at the event was not immediately available.
