Annual Ball 2011

WOW!! What a night! The 9th Solstice Ball held on 30th July 2011 at the Rotunda, Camps Bay was a resounding success. Over 300 Solstice supporters attended the Ball in their finery, fitting well into the theme “Something Green, Something Old, Something Borrowed, Something Bold”. From Green ties and fingernails to Woolworths packing bags tailored into little ‘green numbers’, and shameless borrowing from friends’ wardrobes, the theme was extremely well supported. Guests arrived at the Rotunda entrance to the accompaniment of the Baphumelele Choir. Later, when seated, the Happy Feet Gumboot Dancers and the Cape Academy of Performing Arts wooed them with their spectacular dancing and gyrating bodies. Tables were decorated with beautiful dried flower candelabras, recycled crafted plastic flower candelabras or a trio of carved wooden dolls.

 
The band got the crowd going with a few well-known songs followed by a DJ who had the dance floor buzzing into the early hours of the morning.
 
The highlight of the evening was definitely the Auction compered by Jonathon Schmidt of Claremart. Jonathon has managed all 9 of our auctions and continues to impress with his slick manner and ability to coerce funds out of our supporters. With some amazing items on offer, all generously donated, we managed to raise a record-breaking R460 000.00. In addition, we had arranged for the evening to be carbon-footprint audited, and then sold trees to offset the footprint. This, together with table decor sales, raised a further R38 000.00.
 
The overwhelming support of our committee, patrons, donors and loyal supporters meant that we were in a position to generously support our main beneficiary Baphumelele Children’s Home Fountain of Hope facility in Philippi.