Over 150 people braved a snowstorm to attend WITAN’s W.O.W. Imagine Ball Saturday night.
Beth Fink chaired the event, held at the Sheraton Suites in Cuyahoga Falls. She and the W.O.W. Committee transformed the Sheraton Ballroom into a Winter Wonderland for the gala, celebrating the 70th anniversary of WITAN.
Fink said she collected branches and miniature trees which her son Jonathon Claxton painted winter white. High centerpieces of white flowers with branches and floating lights graced each table, where Abby and Aron Cymerman joined Lisa and Justin Pardi for dinner.
At the silent auction, Susan Loury and Karl Shaw admired a large photo of jockey Ron Turcotte astride Secretariat. “I grew up in Chatham County, New York, and we are horse lovers,” Loury said, as she bid on the poster.
Dr. Mark Farmer and his wife, Nancy, liked all the sports memorabilia in the huge auction that surrounded the room, while Ray and Sherrie Kimberly admired the many gift baskets.
Emma Chandler and Kyle Madden circulated through the crowd selling chances on a six-month lease for a Buick Enclave, parked just outside the ballroom, as Barberton Municipal Judge David Fish stepped up to purchase a ticket.
Members of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority from the University of Akron assisted with the event.
Marge Cook said WITAN was founded in July 1943 and has supported the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, Children’s Hospital Burn Unit, Stewart’s Caring Place, Backpacks for Kids and many other community organizations.
Beth Amer invited everyone to attend WITAN’s French Market, scheduled for Feb. 22 and 23 at Todaro’s Party Center.
“It’s our major fundraiser,” she said as she enjoyed the party along with Carol Jones, Heidi Claxton, Bill Fink, John Farinacci, Jim and Linda Sedlacik, Steve and Carol Null, Bill and Jeri Montalto, and Michael and Michelle Padden.
WITAN President Karen Clark thanked guests for their support as she introduced Underwriting Chairwoman Katie Goodwin, who invited the group to contribute and build onto the endowment fund.
Goodwin invited the group to “imagine” how they could support more community organizations with a larger endowment fund.
Karen and Bill Silver volunteered to chair the endowment effort, and Scott Dressler conducted a reverse live auction of pledges to the fund.
Following dinner, Karen Silver presented Beth Fink with a beautiful basket of roses, a thank you from the committee for all her hard work chairing the event. Then guests enjoyed entertainment and dancing to the music of “SHOUT!”