Hot ticket: Craven Literacy Council to host 10th Annual Daddy Daughter Sweetheart Ball
A local organization is providing an opportunity to create a lasting memory for fathers and their daughters, their first dance.
Craven Literacy Council will hold its 10th Annual Daddy Daughter Sweetheart Ball from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 11 at the Maola Event Center, 1402 N. Craven St.
The event is hosted by Roxann Wheeler and will include a child-adult friendly dinner, DJ, music and dancing, corsages, souvenir photographs and memories for fathers and their daughters that will last a lifetime.
The New Bern High School Drill Team will perform and photos will be taken by photographer David Lloyd.
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The ball is geared toward young ladies in grades Pre-K through 5, but all ages are welcome to attend with their fathers or father figures.
April King, executive director of Craven Literacy Council, said the event is the organization's largest fundraiser.
"This year we have a father who is bringing his daughters who are in their teens and early 20s," King said. "They are ready and looking forward to having a great time."
King said the event started in 2011 which is the same year she started with Craven Literacy Council.
"The first year it was nearly canceled," King said. "Up until about two weeks before the event we had only sold about 5 tickets. We had people who started making phone calls to friends and it turned out okay and has grown every since."
The event is usually a sold-out event with more than 200 people attending.
King said the event center holds about 250 people, but due to COVID-19 they plan to leave space for distancing.
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"We plan on having a wonderful event," King said. "However, if school shuts down, we will postpone the event to a later date."
Tickets are $75 for a couple and additional daughters are $25 each. To purchase tickets, visit Craven Literacy Council's website or call 252-637-8079. You may also pay by check, by emailing april.cravenliteracy@gmail.com for information and a form. Space is limited and there are only a few tickets remaining.
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Sponsors include CarolinaEast Health System, Bear sponsor; Segal Family Charities, Platinum sponsor; Mr. and Mrs. Bill Rivenbark, Gold sponsors; Law Office of Oliver & Cheek, Gibbs Dentistry, The Insurance Center, Law Office of John W. King Jr., Keith and Jane Merritt, Dr. and Mrs. Gerald Pelletier, and Jason and Nancy Thuringer, Bronze sponsors; Coastal Carolina Health Care, Coastal Children's Clinic, Williams Scarborough Gray, CPA's, Century21 Zaytoun Raines Real Estate, C. S. Smith & Associates CPA's, and Thompson Homes Real Estate Group, Silver sponsors.
Craven Literacy Council provides literacy programs to adult residents of Craven, Pamlico and Jones Counties of North Carolina, where approximately 19,000 adults read at or below the third grade level. They are a nationally-accredited volunteer-based organization, delivering instruction to those who wish to enhance basic reading, writing, math and technology skills, and/or learn English. Whether through one-on-one tutoring, a small-group setting, an online curriculum, or virtually, students and volunteer tutors work together to enhance the skills needed to be more productive individuals, workers, parents and citizens.
"I can't tell you how many thanks of appreciation I get from the dads for having this event," King said. "It creates such a beautiful memory for them and their daughters."
For more information, visit cravenliteracy.org.
This article originally appeared on Sun Journal: Literacy Council to host annual Daddy Daughter Sweetheart Ball
