Hancock Park NGA Annual Red Ball February 27

The Hancock Park Needlework Guild of America is holding its annual gala, The Red Ball, on February 27 at Busby’s on Wilshire Boulevard in the Miracle Mile. NGA President Mary Jaworski and benefit co-chairs Melanie Boettcher, Kiel FitzGerald and Oona Kanner are expecting about 200 guests from the neighborhood.

“Thanks to our host venue, Busby’s, we are expecting another wonderful event to raise funds to support our seven local charities,” said Kiel FitzGerald who is heading up the auction effort. “We have an exciting auction with over 50 items donated by local restaurants, local services, retailer, jewelry designers, etc.  But our best selling items are our hosted parties because our support is so local.”  A particular favorite is the September Texas Barbecue, hosted by Bernie and Mary Jaworski. This year a Prague Spring Fest featuring a  beer tasting has been added to the lineup of hosted parties.

“Part of our mission is to build community. We welcome neighbors to come to ‘THE RED BALL  Eat… Drink… Dance…Bid,’ that’s our tag line for this year’s ball!” said Jaworski. The group also welcomes new members who want to get involved in the NGA charitable work.

The NGA is a national charity, founded in 1882 in England. Just ten years later, the Los Angeles Branch was formed in 1895 and became the Hancock Park Branch in 2012. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for economically disadvantaged individuals in the community by collecting, purchasing, and distributing new gifts of clothes, linens, and personal care items through the agencies they support.  

The beneficiary organizations include seven local charities: Alexandria House, Good Shepherd Center for Women and Children, Hollygrove/EMQ Families First, McIntyre House, Operation School Bell (Assistance League of Los Angeles), Aviva, and Imagine LA.

Early bird tickets for The Red Ball are available for $110 through February 14 and regular price tickets for $135 through February 25.

For invitations or ticket information, or to donate funds or an auction item, please email Shelagh Callahan at [email protected] or visit the Hancock Park NGA Facebook page.