The roaring 20s for Sugarcane
Published:Tuesday | February 20, 2018 | 12:00 AMJanet Silvera
WESTERN BUREAU:
The staircases leading out of the elegant Round Hill Hotel lobby became a 1920s runway, as women strutted in, wearing some of the most fascinating couture, while some very dapper men played escorts at the annual Hanover Charities Sugarcane Ball.
Extravagantly beaded flapper dresses, glamorous feathered head pieces, flowing pearls and dazzling gloves, depicting the Roaring '20s, were the order of the event staged to top the US$500,000 made last year at western Jamaica's largest charity event.
On Saturday, February 17, the home of the rich and famous, took on the era, and between the walkways and the dining rooms at Round Hill, that transformation was obvious. It was an evening of great food, fabulous conversation pieces and contemporary music.
The event was held under the patronage of fashion moguls, Ralph and Ricky Lauren. The two were recognised for their unwavering commitment to destination Jamaica, by Prime Minister Andrew Holness.
The Laurens led a long list of celebrities at this year's event, including Virginia US Senator, Jill Vogel and her husband Alex; Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney; Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett; emissaries representing the Canadian, British and European Union and the Charges d' Affaires of the US embassy.
Renowned for its exciting silent and live auction prizes, this year's highlights included a helicopter tour and lunch with Goldeneye's Chris Blackwell; lunch for a party of six, with Jamaica's Ambassador to the US, Audrey Marks; vacation at Four Seasons Town and Country; and executive seats to a Manchester United match, plus a signed football shirt.
The live auction officiated by international auctioneer, Alexander Jilkes, itself earned over US$105,000, for the charity which is now 61 years old.
During its Jubilee, which was a significant milestone of philanthropy, benefiting the country's beautiful parish of Hanover, chairman of Hanover Charities, Katrin Casserly told Outlook that the organisation donated more than $54 million to worthwhile causes such as the Kitchen of Love a soup kitchen in Lucea feeding more than 600 persons every week, and installed six computer labs in primary and high schools across the parish.
"We support 177 scholarship students at the tertiary level, sponsor the annual health fair, serve various schools with feeding or remedial programmes and many more initiatives," she added.