Business and community leaders (Benefactors of Youth) gather Saturday night at the YMCA’s annual Red and Black Ball and are honored for their support. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com
Members of the YMCA’s Chairman’s Roundtable are honored at Saturday’s annual Red and Black Ball. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
From left, LANL’s Community Programs Office Director Kathy Keith, LANL’s Government Affairs Office Director Patrick Woehrle, Janet McMillan, LANL Director Charlie McMillan, Barbara Kacich and LANL Deputy Director Rich Kacich. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
The Family YMCA drew a record number of ticket sales and table sponsors to its 16th annual Red and Black Ball fundraiser Saturday night at Buffalo Thunder.
“Out of Los Alamos, Into Africa” was the theme for this year’s event, which grossed $81,696, including $68,250 from tickets sales and table sponsorships, $9,846 from the silent and live auctions and $3,600 from a raffle for a stay at a condo in Kona.
The goal is to raise $140,000 throughout 2016 to meet financial aid requests, particularly for families who need assistance to send or keep their children in the Y’s after school care and summer care programs, and to help support the Y’s subsidized youth programs, the largest being the Española Teen Center.
“My Board of Directors and I and my staff, many of whom are working directly with our kids in childcare and teens in our teen centers, are so grateful and deeply appreciative of our communities’ support. I believe we had 255 people in attendance,” YMCA CEO Linda Daly said. “This is our major fundraiser. In 2015, we assisted 275 children and individuals from 155 families, access Y programs such as the Y After School Enrichment Program and Summer Camp. In fact, we provide $100,000 in financial aid. It is our policy that no one is turned away from the Y due to inability to pay.”
The Red and Black Ball attracts guests from throughout the community including officials from Los Alamos National Laboratory. LANL Director Charlie McMillan and his wife Janet attended for the fourth year and brought along new Deputy Director Rich Kacich. Kacich’s wife Barbara was the successful bidder for a lunch with Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard.
Garcia Richard and her husband and YMCA Board Member Eric Vasquez have attended the Red and Black Ball for several years.
“What a phenomenal event … it gets better every year,” Garcia Richard said. “I continue to feel privileged to be part of a community that prioritizes the needs of our youth. I want to extend special thanks to Linda (Daly) for her tireless dedication to the Y and to Ben (Sandoval) and Sylvan (Argo) for their work at the Española and Los Alamos teen centers. I can’t wait to go again next year!”
Several other business and community leaders commented on the event:
Centerra General Manager Ted Spain said, “The Red and Black Ball was a great event! As the new Protective Force Subcontractor at Los Alamos, Centerra, LLC is proud to support such a great cause as The Family YMCA of Los Alamos, and the Espanola Teen Center. It is important for us to be good neighbors in the communities where our employees and their families reside. We are proud to serve in the local communities, as we continue to provide security to some of our nation’s most critical assets.”
CEO Feliciano Jiron of Los Alamos Medical Center said, “Anytime you can combine having a wonderful time with great friends, with raising money for a valuable cause, everyone is a winner. The Los Alamos Family Y provides so many indispensable services to our youth and we are honored to play a role in keeping it a vibrant part of our regional community.”
Dolores Martinez of Desert Sun Motors said, “This was my first year attending the Red and Black Ball, and I cannot express how much fun this event was. What a wonderful reason to get dressed up and help raise funds for an important organization within our community. The YMCA in Los Alamos and the Teen Center in Espanola is a great place for kids and families, and Desert Sun is honored to help be a part of it. We will definitely be back next year for more fun, dancing, and of course assisting the YMCA any way we can!”
Chairman’s Round Table Members and Primary Sponsors include Centerra, Cross Connection Inc., Los Alamos Medical Center, Los Alamos National Bank, Lou Santoro State Farm Insurance, MAR Tech Services, TRK Management and Zia Realty Group.
Benefactors of Youth include, Barraclough and Associates, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico, Desert Sun Auto Group, Diana and Mark Martinez, Dick and Nancy Martin, LANL and LANS, Linda and Paul Daly, Los Alamos Public Safety Association, Los Alamos Public Safety Association, Los Alamos Española Transit Mix, Modrall Sperling, Presbyterian Española Hospital, RBC Capital Markets, Sharon Stover and Steven Girrens, Smith’s Marketplace and TechSource.
Members of the Chairman’s Round Table and Primary Sponsors gather at a special event just ahead of the Red and Black Ball Saturday night at Buffalo Thunder. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Los Alamos County Clerk Sharon Stover and County Councilor Steven Girrens. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com
From left, Helen and Chris Ortega, Johana and LAMC CEO Feliciano Jiron and LAMC Marketing Director Mary Beth Maassen and Larry Maassen. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Senior PSA Ofc. Tom Beyer and Dr. Merry McIntyre. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Los Alamos Fire Chief Troy Hughes and Pinon Elementary teacher Jodi Hughes. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
From left, Dick Martin, Shay Kendricks and Nancy Martin. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Los Alamos Police Chief Dino Sqambellone and Robyn Sgambellone. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard, red dress, speaks with Barbara Kacich who successfully bid on a lunch with Garcia Richard. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Dr. Merry McIntyre. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Los Alamos Historical Society Executive Director Heather McClanahan and Bob McClanahan. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
From left, Claudia Mora, Pete Maggiore and Roger Waterman in their African garb. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
From left, LANL’s Patrick Woehrle with Los Alamos County Councilor David Izraelevitz and his wife Terry Izraelevitz. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
UNM-LA Executive Director Cindy Rooney and LANL’s Brian Rooney. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
JoBeth Steinhaus and LAPS Superintendent Dr. Kurt Steinhaus. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
From left, Roger Waterman, Emily McGay and Shay Kenricks. Waterman discusses the scooter that he and McGay donated for the live auction at this year’s Red and Black Ball. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
United way of Northern New Mexico Executive Director Kristy Ortega served at auctioneer at the event. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com
Shay Kendricks assists auctioneer Kristy Ortega. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
From left, Los Alamos National Bank’s Claudia Reidys, Karen Easton and Rod Pittman. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Los Alamos Medical Center’s Mark Powell and Teresa Reynolds. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Photographer Don Taylor took complimentary sweetheart pictures during the event including YMCA CEO Linda Daly and Dr. Paul Daly. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Silent auction items. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Scene from the Red and Black Ball Saturday night at Buffalo Thunder. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
