In its 68-year history, Crystal Charity Ball has provided more than $149,387,669 for children’s nonprofits in Dallas County. This past February the committee of 100 committed to raising $7,870,020 for eight beneficiaries (Ability Connection, Catch Up and Read, Center for Vision Health, Children’s Medical Center Foundation, Foundation for Callier Center for Communication Disorders, Healing Hands Ministries, Mommies in Need Inc. and North Texas Food Bank). A month later, COVID-19 invaded North Texas like the rest of the country and life dramatically changed. Nary a nonprofit was left unscathed by the disease.
Today 2020 CCB Chair Tucker Enthoven announced the cancellation of the 2020 black-tie gala scheduled for Saturday, December 5.
As Tucker explained, “After developing and analyzing multiple venue, food, and entertainment options for the Ball, we have concluded that an in-person event is not appropriate this year given our concern for both the health and well-being of our donors and vendors and the economic uncertainty brought on by the pandemic.”
But just because the Ball is canceled doesn’t mean that the CBB-ers are throwing in the towel. During the first week of December, both the luxury Silent Auction and Contribution Ticket drawing will be held online, as will the distribution of the 2020 Children’s Book.
So, while the Ball will not take place, the generosity of the supporters will hopefully achieve this year’s goal. After all, it’s not about a party; it’s about the children of Dallas County.
History note: The only other time that CCB canceled the ball was in 1963 following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy that took place just days before.