Over 600 thousand. That is the total yield of the charity Ball for You, organized again this year by a large group of young people and families from the Catholic parish in Ústí nad Orlicí, which amounts to ten editions. The charitable event, which first took place in the modest premises of the cultural house in nearby Říčky, has grown over the years. And this year, on November 23, it attracted almost three hundred visitors to the culture house in Orlickoústecko.
The organizers of the ball have been actively collaborating with the Pontifical Mission Societies from the beginning, through which the proceeds go to a selected project. In five cases, this was to Africa, and in other cases, to southern or eastern Asia. This year, for the first time, the choice fell on the old continent, specifically Albania.
“We would like to help with the operation of a school and kindergarten in the Albanian village of Pluga. They are cared for by religious sisters who guide children towards Christian values in a predominantly Muslim country,” explains one of the organizers, Dominika Javůrková, while her husband, Josef, adds: “Unlike other schools, this one is not supported by the state. They have fewer children in classes, prepare an afternoon program for them, and promote an individual approach.”
Ensuring the event and finishing in the black is no easy task; every hand is needed during the preparations. Some help with publicity, others bake, while others gather prizes for the competition. “Fortunately, after all these years, everyone knows what and when needs to be done. At the end of summer, we select a project for which the proceeds will go, and other organizational matters are resolved from September,” mentions Javůrková.
This year, the organizers offered a film with a discussion about the locality to which the charity event was dedicated. The jubilee tenth edition was also literally spiced up by tastings of local cuisine. “It was prepared by Matěj Mach, a chef who ventured to Albania and shared his observations during the opening of the ball,” mentioned Josef Javůrek one of the points of the traditionally rich program.
As usual, the local swing orchestra Black Band conducted by Linda Gregarová and the Ústí “classic” in the form of the band Těžká doba were not missing from the program. The young dancers were complemented by an alternative theater. “We invited Dominik Tesař from the Prague Theater 100 monkeys, and his performance on stilts certainly captured the audience's attention,” believes Dominika Javůrková.
The exact yield of the jubilee 10th edition is still unknown, but it is almost certain to exceed 50 thousand crowns. The record pre-COVID editions managed to approach almost double that amount. “We are happy; the ball is an opportunity for dancing, but also for chatting and meeting acquaintances,” points out Josef Javůrek, and in response to the plans for the coming years, his wife Dominika quickly adds: “As long as we can continue. And for the twentieth anniversary, we will again raise our glasses, just like we did this year.”
Jan Pokorný
