The fourth annual Harvest Ball, organized by the Moscow Protestant Chaplaincy, will take place on Saturday, Nov. 10, at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Moscow. Apart from an evening of dining and dancing, the event involves an auction to support the Chaplaincy's Social Services programs.
"Last year's ball was an incredible success," said Laura Keith, Development Director at MPC Social Services. "We hosted around 350 people from the Russian and international business and diplomatic community. Items donated for the live and silent auctions ranged from a time-share in Hawaii to high-end art. We are still gathering an exciting array of items to be auctioned off this year."
All proceeds are to benefit the MPC's Social Services programmes, including the Universitet Soup Kitchen and food bag distribution program, serving "Moscow's single mothers, children, pensioners and refugees" since their formal inception in 1991. Other programs range from refugee shelter and repatriation programs to language and computer instruction. MPCSS also operates a "task force" on racial violence and harassment.
"This year, we are going to launch a '50,000' Campaign, in honor of the MPC community's 50th anniversary," said Laura Keith. "We are encouraging schools, businesses, volunteers and the general Moscow community to donate food items to support our food bag distribution programs. Our goal is to reach 50,000 donations."
MPC Social Services, officially a non-religious entity, is one of the longest serving charitable organizations in Moscow. Members of the organization include Russians, economic migrants, and expats from the business and diplomatic community.
Apart from live and silent auctions, the evening will also feature a champagne reception followed by a three-course meal and a number of special performances. "I am unable to announce names officially, but the acts will include a world-renowned Russian jazz pianist and a live rock'n'roll band for dancing after dinner," said Laura Keith. "It will be a great party, but most importantly it is an incredible way for Muscovites, even temporary ones, to support ongoing programs to serve those in need here in Moscow."
Tickets, at the price of 6,000 rubles each, can be purchased directly from the Development Director of MPCSS.
The Moscow Protestant Chaplaincy is an inter-denominational, English-speaking Protestant church, holding services every Sunday at the St Andrews Church on Voznesensky Pereulok. The chaplaincy also runs a choir, a Sunday school for children, and a parish center intended as a safe space for people of color in Moscow.
Sat. Nov. 10, at 6:30 p.m. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel. 3 Tverskaya Ulitsa. Metro Okhotny Ryad, Ploschad Revolyutsii, Teatralnaya. Tickets and information available from Laura Keith, Development Director at MPCSS. Tel. (906) 705-3619. Development@mpcss.org
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