Elks Scholarship Ball set for June 16
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Dinner, dancing and a variety of musical entertainment are scheduled for the 40th Annual Scholarship Ball, starting at 6 p.m. Friday at the Saratoga-Wilton Elks Lodge, 1 Elk Lane, off Route 9 in Saratoga Springs.
The event, hosted by Frederick Allen Lodge No. 609 -- the West Side Elks Club -- will feature a keynote address by Saratoga Springs Superintendent of Schools Michael Piccirillo, who will be introduced by celebrity emcee and legendary track announcer Tom Durkin.
Last year’s scholarship recipient, Saratoga Springs High School graduate Maya Clarke-Brunetto, will also address the audience that’s expected to be comprised of many local dignitaries. Clarke-Brunetto recently completed her freshman year at Dartmouth College.
Former Mayor Ken Klotz is master of ceremonies.
The event’s honorary chairs are Mayor Joanne Yepsen, Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, Saratoga Springs Supervisor Matt Veitch and former Spa City Mayor Scott Johnson and his wife, Julie.
The entertainment lineup is Heavenly Echoes, a men’s a capella group from Albany, Cece’s Saratoga Soul Dancers, and Saratoga Humanitarian Youth for Transformation (SHYFT), a performance troupe comprised of Saratoga Springs High School students.
Dancing, from 9 p.m. to midnight, will be to live music by Milayne Jackson and the Blue Train Trio.
An after-party is scheduled for the Frederick Allen Lodge on Beekman Street.
Frederick Allen Lodge, formed in 1925, has been part of the fabric of the Saratoga Springs community for nearly a century. The Mary A. Carter Temple No. 362 was also formed in 1925, several months after the Lodge, to assist the Lodge in its endeavors.
Recently, the Lodge and Saratoga-Wilton Elks have initiated a partnership of mutual support between the two organizations.
Frederick Allen Lodge and Mary. A Carter Temple engage in regular projects to benefit the local community, with an emphasis on education and youth. The annual Scholarship Ball raises money to fund scholarships for a deserving college-bound senior at one of the local high schools.
These scholarships have been awarded since the 1970s and have made the difference in the lives of dozens of talented local young people.
Clarke-Brunetto, the 2016 scholarship recipient, was nominated by her high school guidance counselor and selected by a panel of school officials. An engineering major at Dartmouth, she achieved a 3.33 grade point average this year.
She also belongs to Dartmouth’s Chamber Orchestra Club, where she plays viola, and enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking and other outdoor activities. She plans to share her college experiences and career goals with everyone at the Scholarship Ball.
Other Frederick Allen Lodge projects include fundraising for the local Salvation Army and Code Blue, a food drive for the Franklin Community Center, a clothing drive at the Lodge for low-income women and children, and a Christmas party with a visit from Santa for low-income children.
The ball starts with a cocktail hour (cash bar) at 6 p.m., followed by a dinner program from 7-9 p.m., and dancing from 9 p.m. to midnight.
The cost is $75 per person or $125 per couple. VIP tables are available.
For more information contact Bob Reed at (518) 583-2999 or vikings27@ verizon.net; Ken Klotz at 587-1534 or kklotz@nycap.rr.com; or Bill Stanley at 796-4581 or wstanley@nycap.rr.com.