Beaux Arts Ball Makes Record Donations to Community

Planned and organized by students from the University of Kentucky College of Design, the Beaux Arts Ball is one of the largest student-run, nonprofit organizations in the state of Kentucky. The event provides a unique atmosphere for local organizations, musicians, performers, dancers, and various design and installation artists to share their work and ideas with the Lexington community.

This year's Beaux Arts Ball held April 9, at Pepper Warehouse, enjoyed an attendance of 3,500. Through the festivities, the foundation raised funds to help support three primary organizations, the Children's Advocacy Center, Epilepsy Foundation of Kentuckiana and Lexington Children's Theatre. Each organization received a $17,000 donation from the Beaux Arts Ball Foundation.

In addition, 10 honorable mention charities split money raised from ball proceeds. The organizations splitting $4,500 were: Lexington Fairness; Faith in Action: Elder Outreach; Lexington Dream Factory; Friends of the Lexington Public Library; Balagula Theatre Company; Home of the Innocents; Lexington Fashion Collaborative; Green River Academy Historic Site; and the UK Chapter of Students Helping Honduras. Another $1,500 raised by the foundation will help fund scholarships at UK College of Design.

Several students were in involved in making the 2011 Beaux Arts Ball a success. Coordinating efforts for the Beaux Arts Ball was third year architecture students Donovan Justice, Madelynn Ringo and Geoffrey Sorrell. Planning for the ball began in the summer of 2010.

Many other UK students volunteered selling tickets, painting the stage, working on installations and hanging posters. Third year architecture student Jon McAllister restructured the indoor stage and designed the ball's DJ booth. His wife, Terri McAllister, designed graphics for the event, along with the website, posters and tickets. English junior Elizabeth Hicks and architecture senior Corey Jenkins were in charge of working with the 2011 charities. The event's fashion show was coordinated by student merchandising, apparel and textiles junior Sara Jane Estes, of the Lexington Fashion Collaborative.

The origins of the Beaux Arts Ball date back to the 19th century, when the architecture community of the Ecole des Beaux Arts hosted the first event. The ball's theme asked for creativity and imagination beyond the scope of tamed human minds. Lexington's first Beaux Arts Ball was presented in 1969. Visitors have come to the ball from UK, the Lexington community, surrounding cities and counties, and even internationally. Held in unique spaces all around the city, from tobacco warehouses to hotel parking garages, ball patrons come to explore creativity, enjoy music and spectacle, and celebrate camaraderie.

MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Hale, (859) 257-1754 ext. 229; Whitney.Hale@uky.edu