Inaugural Ceilidh event raises funds for OCC
The inaugural Ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee), a Scottish-themed dinner, music, story, and dance party to benefit the Ouachita Children’s Center, was held Oct. 4 at the Coronado Center in Hot Springs Village.
The OCC received $2,100 in sponsorships and raised about $1,100 from the event, Sallie Culbreth, OCC resource development and public relations director, said Tuesday, noting there were 130 people in attendance.
“It was the first one — so not much to measure against at this point. We may have broken even, but hoping we established some new relationships with people who see the value in the work we do with kids in crisis,” she said.
The Ceilidh was piped in by Fred Kiffer, a bagpiper from Little Rock while group singing of Scottish songs was led by Christy Etheridge, Linda Ragsdale, Jill Fitzgerald, and Court Mathey, all of Hot Springs Village, a release said.
As happens in all Ceilidhs, the program was peppered with Scottish jokes and stories told by Hot Springs Village resident and OCC board member Alan Trippel. OCC’s executive director, Mark Howard, also a Village resident, shared the organization’s mission and work with youths and families in crisis.
OCC provides emergency shelter in Hot Springs, educational support groups and case management both in Hot Springs and Arkadelphia, and community outreach that includes working with homeless youths.
KVRE’s Annie Dyer advocated for OCC, sharing her personal passion for the work done by the organization and urging guests to make a difference through their financial support of the nonprofit’s work. OCC hopes to make this an annual event in Hot Springs Village. Visit http://www.occnet.org for more information about OCC.