Boa Ball

Benefiting the American Red Cross

Story by Lesley Young  |  Photos by Baxter Buck

It was a fun and instructional evening for partygoers who attended the Mid-South Chapter of the American Red Cross’s Boa Ball. Event co-chairs Alice Higdon and Catherine Harris, who held the gala event downtown at The Columns at One Commerce Square, were sure to include information relevant to the ARC’s mission, namely how to “Prevent, Prepare and Respond” to emergencies.    

 “There were 851 residential fires last year; the Mid-South Chapter of the American Red Cross provided $450,000 in direct financial assistance,” said John Thatcher, the Mid-South Chapter’s director of development. “We’re here tonight to teach people about our mission and to help them know how to prepare for and respond to emergen-cies—to show them how to do compression CPR, to teach them what’s in a disaster kit.”    

 All these demos were done while guests were having a little fun donning their boas, which awaited men and women at their seats if they hadn’t brought the feathery accessory with them. In addition to the ARC’s information booths set up throughout the columned room, a trivia quiz had attendees recalling the information they’d just acquired at the booths, and a dozen or so food stations, drink booths and a silent auction of nearly close to 150 items also amused patrons.  

 “This is just something fun, something different and interesting,” Thatcher said.     

The Super 5 provided music, and John Bryant of WMC-TV Action News 5 emceed the second annual event that raised more than $30,000 thanks to the 350 Memphians who attended.     

“We had a great time and a wonderful turnout,” said community development and public affairs manager Kim Cribb. “We enjoyed the new space at The Columns, and we’re looking forward to next year. We’ve already started planning for it.”