Charity ball on Saturday

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Charity ball on Saturday
Sigma Alpha Iota hosts an annual Charity Ball. Giannina Imperial | Courtesy

Autumn is barely here, but Sigma Alpha Iota is ushering in winter at their annual Charity Ball.

The women’s music fraternity is hosting their yearly philanthropy event in a 1903 Romanov Winter Ball theme. The formal gala will fall on Saturday, Oct. 14 from 8 p.m. to midnight in the Howard Music Hall. The donations will go to the Reading Community Schools’ music department.

“We raise money for a certain area high school’s music program, and this year, we are raising money for Reading Schools because they are starting a competitive winter drumline,” Sigma Alpha Iota President senior Giannina Imperial said. “We chose them because they seemed very excited.”

The event has a formal dress code, according to Charity Ball coordinator senior Emily Blatter, and features a raffle, dancing, and live performances by bands and the ladies of SAI.

SAI started planning early, choosing a charity to fund and gathering donations for raffle prizes and decorations this summer.

“I absolutely could not do this without my sisters,” Blatter said.

There has been an effort to raise more awareness about the event.

“We asked Dr. Arnn if he would be willing to involve himself this year, and he’s been sending letters to all the faculty, telling them about Charity Ball,” Imperial said. “With all the extra publicity going out this year and the faculty response, we’re expecting a large turnout.”

College President Larry Arnn is involved in other ways as well.

“In the earlier days of the ball, there would be a cocktail hour at Broadlawn for the faculty and the SAI seniors with Dr. Arnn,” Blatter said. “He was generous enough to bring that back this year for us.”

Tickets can be purchased during lunch and dinner for $15 per individual, $25 per couple, and $50 per group of five people.

“It is really great to give back to the community, especially music-wise,” Imperial said. “A lot of high schools don’t have a lot of funding for their music program, so we want to help out.”