Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
WC Summer Soiree to return for third year
Hundreds dressed in all white are expected to attend the third annual WC Summer Soiree Aug. 25.
While white might be the absence of light, an upcoming local charitable event benefitting kids will be anything but an absence of caring.
Hundreds dressed in all white are expected to attend the third annual WC Summer Soiree — Night in White Helping Children with Life’s Basic Necessities.
Watch out for those ketchup stains; the table clothes, flowers and candles will all be white.
Kelly McIntyre is cochair. She has attended previous soirees.
“I didn’t see any major stains although there might have been some wine stains,” she said.
Similar events, or “Diner En Blancs,” are held in Philadelphia and New York. Last year, the West Chester soiree attracted 700 guests at a surprise location, the Church Farm School. The event generated $47,000 for charity.
Three hundred fifty guests gave $19,000 in 2016, while visiting the American Helicopter Museum.
The three charities benefiting from this year’s soiree are the Melton Center, Kid Needs for the Bruder Family and Chester County Family Academy.
Diners will only learn the location of the party the day before the Aug. 25 get-together.
Guests will enjoy live music and dancing under the stars. They will bring their own picnic dinner and cocktails to share an evening with neighbors, family and friends.
“This has been an amazing opportunity to see the community and event evolve,” McIntyre said. Seeing everyone that night and being able to raise that amount of money and develop relationships is wonderful.”
Tim Treston is treasurer of beneficiary at the Melton Center and has his white shirt already picked out.
He said the contribution is a “godsend” for the nonprofit Melton Center.
Funds will help support
children-centered programs including New Direction, an after-school tutoring program and STEAM summer programs based on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math learning.
“Every year is a challenge for us to fund our programs,” Treston said. “We rely on the generosity of the local community.”
Susan Flynn is director of the Chester County Academy Family School, at 530 E. Union Street.
Flynn said that students will receive help when experiencing a family crisis. The school will also be able to purchase school supplies,
holiday dinners and clothing.
“We are able with these funds to provide families with the basic necessities we take for granted,” Flynn said. “We are so honored and fortunate to be a recipient of this event for three years in a row.
“It gives the community a chance to give back,” she said. “It’s important for people to be a part and it gives people a way to change the lives of our students.”
Kid Needs is a charity helping the Bruder Family combat kidney cancer.
For more information, go to www.wcsummersoiree.org.