Masquerade ball aids Haiti, Uganda

Sisters will enjoy the glamour and mystery of a masquerade ball Saturday night, March 27, to benefit charities helping people in Uganda and earthquake-ravaged Haiti.

The Sisters Masquerade Benefit Ball will be held at the Aspen Lakes Lodge. The event is a black-tie, suit, wedding dress or formal gown affair. Cost is $35 per person, $60 per couple in advance; $50 per person, $90 per couple at the door.

Masks will be available at the door for a small fee and guests are encouraged to bring their own. Tickets can be purchased at Sisters Community Church and Aspen Lakes.

The proceeds from this event will be split between the long-term needs of the children of Uganda through Sisters Community Church, and the immediate needs of the people of Haiti.

The event, which runs from 7 to 10 p.m., will feature presentations by local photographer David Uttley, just back from four weeks in Haiti, and videographers Eli and Kelly Pyke, just back from Uganda. Dancing and dessert will follow the

presentations.

The event was the brainchild of Matt Adams, of Sisters. He wanted to raise money for those hurting in Uganda and Haiti, but kept running into roadblocks.

"When I went into one store, the owner looked at my poster and then just said, flat out, 'I'm sorry but I can't help you,'" Adams recalled.

Asking her to clarify, she said that she could not donate any more to any cause. She granted Adams permission to place the poster, and it was then that he saw three other charity events displayed in her window for that month alone.

"I knew there had to be a way to help but not be such a burden," he said. "So I created an event that could do three things: raise funds, bless the businesses that helped and be really fun to attend. And come on, when was the last time you got dressed up for fun?"

Aspen Lakes agreed to help with the location, and gave Matt a discount on the room rental as well as helping to plan some of the details of the event.

"Without Grant and the whole Aspen Lakes team, there would be no way this could ever come about," Adams said.

As Matt continued to prepare for the ball, he found businesses giving discounts and donating some of their time without being asked, because he wasn't looking for handouts or expecting a

donation.

For more information about the event visit: http://www.SistersMasquerade.com, or http://www.AspenLakes.com, or call 541-549-1201.