A night for the world
NHCC’s Maravilla fundraising event has global reach with virtual platform
Roberta Ricci had big plans for this year’s Maravilla celebration.
The annual fundraising event for the National Hispanic Cultural Center Foundation has been one of the fall events to watch.
This year, it will be a lower key affair, yet still fantastic.
“We had so much planned because the NHCC is turning 20 this year,” Ricci says. “It took some thinking on how to make this happen.”
Ricci is the NHCC Foundation director and says this year’s event will be just as special.
“Maravilla: Una Noche en El Mundo Hispano” will take place at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12.
The virtual event will combine performances, an exclusive tour of the NHCC campus and special messages from 27 Spanish speaking countries.
Ricci says there will also be demonstrations showcasing Hispanic food, traditions, music and art.
“We decided to do it different this year because of the pandemic,” Ricci says. “It will include a lot of our local vendors and businesses.”
One example is the foundation teamed up with Hollow Spirits Distillery for an interactive part of the event.
“It’s going to be a Food Network type of video,” Ricci says. “People can go buy the ingredients for a signature drink for Maravilla at Hollow Spirits. Then there
will be a video during Maravilla showing the viewer how to make the signature drink. It’s been fun and exciting to think outside of the box.”
As with previous years, there will also be a silent auction taking place online.
Some of the items include a handcrafted cross by Edward L. Lujan, staycation packages, a unique piece of art by Reyes Padilla, and autographed items by basketball legend Kobe Bryant.
“Having these items will push us to a larger audience,” Ricci says.
Ricci says there will be opportunities to host a dinner at your home.
These events will follow all state health orders, she says.
“If there are people that want to break bread together, we’re giving them options,” Ricci says. “One option is to order and pick up individually wrapped meals from Slate Street Cafe.”
There will also be a performance by Baracutanga, which lasts an hour.
“Each year, Maravilla is limited to 750 people,” Ricci says. “This year, we can expand all over the world being virtual. We’re trying to spread the word about the event. We’re usually one of the last galas of the year. We had to think what would get people excited this year.”