Over 600 thousand. That is the total amount raised from ten years of the charity Ball for You, organized once again this year by a large group of young people and families from the Catholic parish in Ústí nad Orlicí. The charity event, which first took place in the modest surroundings of a cultural center in nearby Říčky, has grown over the years. And this year, on November 23, once again "on a grand scale," it attracted nearly three hundred visitors to the cultural center in Orlickoústecko.
The organizers of the ball have actively collaborated since the beginning with the Pontifical Mission Societies, through which the proceeds go to a selected project. In five cases to Africa, and at other times towards southern or eastern Asia. This year, for the first time, the choice fell on the old continent, specifically Albania.
“We would like to help ensure the operation of a school and kindergarten in the Albanian village of Plug. They are cared for by religious sisters who teach the children Christian values in a predominantly Muslim country,” explains one of the organizers, Dominika Javůrková, and her husband Josef adds: “Unlike other schools, it is not supported by the state. They have fewer children in classes, prepare an afternoon program for them, and promote an individualized approach.”
Ensuring the event and finishing in the black numbers is not easy; every hand is needed during preparations. Some help with publicity, others bake, and some look for prizes for the contest. “Fortunately, over the years, everyone knows what and when needs to be done. By the end of summer, we select the project to which the proceeds will go, and other organizational matters are dealt with from September,” notes Javůrková.
This year, the organizers also offered a film with a discussion about the location to which the charity event was dedicated. The jubilee tenth edition was additionally spiced up with tasting of local cuisine. “It was prepared by Matěj Mach, a chef who traveled to Albania and shared his observations during the opening of the ball,” mentioned Josef Javůrek about one of the points of the traditionally rich program.
As usual, the local swing orchestra Black Band, under the baton of Linda Gregarová, was not missing, along with the local "classic" in the form of the band Těžká doba. The performance of young dancers was complemented by an alternative theater. “We contacted Dominik Tesař from the Prague Theatre 100 Owls, and his performance on stilts certainly captivated the audience,” believes Dominika Javůrková.
The exact proceeds of the jubilee 10th edition are not yet known, but it will almost certainly exceed 50 thousand crowns. The record pre-COVID years, however, were able to reach nearly double that amount. “We are happy, the ball is an opportunity for dancing, but also for chatting and meeting with acquaintances,” points out Josef Javůrek, and when asked about plans for future years, his wife Dominika quickly responds: “Mainly, we want to continue. And on the twentieth anniversary, we will once again raise our glasses, just as we managed to do this year.”
Jan Pokorný
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