Since the first Gastonia Debutante Club Ball was held in 1957, the club has done its part to help make Gaston County a better place.
During its 56-year history, the club has supported civic and cultural organizations through its generous donations.
The beneficiaries of the club’s charitable giving have included places that help people rebuild their lives — As One Minstries , the Belmont Community Organization and Catherine’s House.
The club has also given to groups that help people better their lives — the Gaston Literacy Council, the Loray Girls Home, the West Gastonia Boys’ and Girls Club, Gaston Skills and Webb Street School.
The club has been there for organizations like Hospice of Gaston County, the House of Mercy, Holy Angels and Gaston Comprehensive Day Care Center.
And the club has championed our arts and history — The Gaston Arts Council, the Gaston County Art and History Museum, the Hoyle Homestead and the Schiele Museum of Natural History.
On Wednesday, the club made a gracious donation to The Gazette Empty Stocking Fund, the annual campaign the newspaper conducts to help the Salvation Army provide Christmas assistance to those among us who have hit hard times this holiday season.
The donation comes as the Debutante Club prepares for the highlight of its year, the annual Debutante Ball, which will be held this year on Dec. 28 at the Gaston Country Club.
The master of ceremonies will be David Hudson Carter, of Gastonia.
He currently serves as treasurer of the Gaston Day School board of trustees and has been a member of the board for six years. He is a member of the Gaston Country Club board of directors and a member of First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church of Gastonia. A graduate of North Carolina State University, he is executive director of business development with CedarCrestone .
He and his wife, Shelley Friesen Carter, have two daughters, Haley Lauren Cater, who attends New York University’s Tisch School of Performing Arts, and Kendall Leigh Carter, who attends Gaston Day School. Mrs. Carter made her debut with the Gastonia Debutante Club in 1984, and served as its president in 2010. Haley made her debut with the club in 2012.
Thanks to the Debutante Club and others who gave on Wednesday, the campaign moved closer to its goal. There’s still a long way to go, but Gaston County always answers the call.
Money raised through the campaign goes to buy Christmas toys and warm clothes for children, food for their caregivers and gifts for seniors in need. The Salvation Army expects to help 486 families – 1,151 children. The Silver Bells program for seniors will help about 40 people, and about 1,800 residents of assisted living centers and nursing homes will receive gifts.
Making a contribution is easy. Donations can be:
- Brought to The Gazette , 1893 Remount Road, Gastonia, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
- Mailed to The Gazette Empty Stocking Fund, P.O. Box 1538, Gastonia, NC 28053.
For your convenience, a contribution form is included in today’s Gazette .
Today’s contributors include:
- In memory of Charles Quinn and Lillie Quinn, from Sherry Wyatt, $25
- In memory of James L. Wyatt, from Jim and Sherry Wyatt, $25
-From Inez Mills, $100
- Anonymous, $25
- In honor of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, from Brady and Betty Ratchford , $100
- In memory of Brian Kevin Farrar, $100
- In memory of Wm. Hayden Hayes and Mark Henry Hayes, from Betty Hayes, $100
- In memory of Kenneth R. Hinson, loving husband, Dad and Grandpa, anonymous, $300
- In memory of Viola S. and G. Washburn Hardin, wonderful parents, anonymous, $200
- From the Gastonia Debutante Club, $100
- In memory of Betty Lewis, from children, grandchildren and great- granchildren , $50
- In honor of our veterans, $600
Every dollar given to The Gazette Empty Stocking Fund campaign goes directly to the Salvation Army for its Christmas outreach. By giving, you are making a difference in the life of someone right here in Gaston County.
The campaign, which kicked off on Thanksgiving Day, continues through Christmas Eve. We’ll announce our final total on Christmas Day.
GOAL: $100,000
AMOUNT RAISED: $8,917