THE
STORY BEHIND THE EVENT
January
30, 2010 - Colorado Springs, CO
The Story Behind The Event
Tonight's
event marks the fourth anniversary of the Glass Slipper Ball in
Colorado Springs, and since we all love stories, we thought we'd
share with you the story of how this night came to be.
"The
Glass Slipper Ball Featuring the Best of the Chefs" debuted
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 2004. Debra Dion Krischke, a long-time
Zontian and professional event producer conceived and produced
the inaugural event. When we heard her presentation about the
success of the event in Pittsburgh, we got excited about what
could be accomplished in Colorado Springs. We invited Debra to
speak to our club, and after some agonizing about the risks and
potential rewards, we jumped in with both feet. Colorado Springs
was one of the first replications of this fabulously successful
event.
For
the first two years Laura Stamp led the planning effort, working
tirelessly along with Debra to lay the foundation. Finding the
right venue, at the right time of year, with the best band and
the finest chefs were a few of the hurdles. In its third year,
Shannon Rowan stepped up to continue the success of the event,
and this year the baton has been passed to Sonya Bergeron who
continues to lead a dedicated group of Zontians in their quest
to create a dazzling evening for guests and a successful fund-raiser
for TESSA and others.
Whenever
we can be witness to the best efforts of chefs, florists, decorators,
musicians, dancers, sponsors and volunteers - it's magical! We've
worked very hard and have had fun producing this special evening,
and hope you'll have a marvelous and memorable experience knowing
that your participation is helping women transform their lives--through
the efforts of TESSA locally and the ZONTA International Foundation
globally. Thank you for supporting the Glass Slipper Ball and
The Zonta Club of the Pikes Peak Area!
Like
many things in life, creating something new is a combined result
of an evolution of thoughts, action, events and people. And since
women love stories, we thought we'd share with you the story of
how this night came to be.
"The
Glass Slipper Ball Featuring the Best of the Chefs" debuted
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 2004. The current title sponsors
Tums and Oscal came on in 2005 and are now presenting this event
as it becomes replicated by other Zonta clubs throughout the country.
Colorado Springs is one of the first replications of this fabulously
successful event, and the effort continues toward bringing exposure
and much needed revenue to an 85-year-old professional women's
service organization - Zonta.
Over
the past 25 years the small, local Zonta Club in Pikes Peak struggled
with fundraisers and lack of visibility within the community.
Being a volunteer organization, Zonta Pikes Peak came into the
new millennium needing to attract new members and new talent.
But this is a very difficult time for women. They are juggling
many balls in the air, and tend to put themselves last. Many working
mothers and professional women have taken multi-tasking to an
unhealthy level. Yet for the past 85 years, Zonta clubs worldwide
have attracted women, very busy women, to help make a difference
in women's lives on a local and global level.
Two
years ago longtime member and former president, Sharon Roggy attended
a
Zonta Conference in Denver where 130 women from all over the United
States came together to learn and share ideas and solutions. As
luck would have it, Debra Dion Krischke, the founder of the Glass
Slipper Ball sat down next to Sharon at lunch. She told Sharon
the story about this event and how it was starting to get reproduced
in other cities with other clubs. It was in the infant stages,
but ready for take off!
It didn't take Sharon long to know she wanted her club to produce
this event.
After jumping through committee hurdles, board hurdles and membership
hurdles the decision was made by the club to move forward. Laura
Stamp stepped up to chair the event and she and Debra started
laying the foundation. Finding the right venue, at the right time
of year, with the best band and the finest chefs were a few more
hurdles. Combined with other Zontians who came onto the committee
to lend their skills, the support of the membership at large and
the partnership with TESSA and Dance Colorado we finally arrive
at this night. Enthusiasm is contagious!
Whenever
we can be witness to the "Best Effort" of chefs, florists,
musicians, dancers, sponsors and volunteers - it's magical. Thank
you for supporting this premier Colorado Springs event- it's truly
women helping women transforming lives - one club at a time.
There
is a saying that we are all born angels with only one wing, but
by locking arms we can fly. Bon Voyage and get ready for take-off!
Zontians are locking arms!
