RIT to Host Second Annual Hunter’s Hope Candlelight Ball, July 23
The Candlelight Ball is an evening to celebrate life and our love for all children while raising funds and awareness to fight leukodystrophies. The second annual Rochester Hunter’s Hope Candlelight Ball will take place Friday, July 23, at 7:00 p.m. at the RIT Inn & Conference Center.
RIT President Albert J. Simone will chair the gala event. The Foundation hopes to raise $100,000 to fight Krabbe Disease and other leukodystrophies at this year’s Ball.
“Our goal is to make the Candlelight Ball the premier summer gala in Rochester. Bringing Dr. Simone on board as the honorary chair and moving the event to the RIT Inn & Conference Center are significant steps towards reaching our goal,” says Jim Kelly. “Rochester has always supported Hunter’s Hope and we look forward to seeing everyone out at this summer’s Candlelight Ball.”
According to Simone, RIT looks forward to making the Candlelight Ball a remarkable event.
“For 175 years, RIT has devoted its resources toward excellence in education, research and community outreach, so I can think of no better venue to host this event,” he states. “We are extremely proud to partner with the Hunter’s Hope Foundation, and we call upon our community to lend its support. Together, we can assure that Hunter’s Hope continues to provide hope to those afflicted with a leukodystrophy.”
The Semi-Formal Event will include a Chef’s Extravaganza of the area’s finest restaurants and wineries. The event will also feature a live, silent and Chinese auction. The evening’s celebrity entertainment will be announced in the coming weeks.
Last year, comedian Jeff Foxworthy performed at the gala. Past performers at the Hunter’s Hope Candlelight Ball in Buffalo included Tim McGraw, Hootie and the Blowfish, Meatloaf, All-4-One and the Goo Goo Dolls.
Corporate sponsorships are available by contacting the Hunter’s Hope office at 1-877-984-HOPE. Current supporters include RIT Inn & Conference Center, B. Thomas Golisano, Eric Mower and Associates, Charter One Bank, Bob Spatola’s Party Rental Inc., DPI Printing, Entercom Communications, Pepsi Bottling Group of Rochester, Tuxedo Junction, Northeastern Production Systems, Starbucks, Business Strategies Magazine, Nextel and WROC TV-8.
Individual tickets to the Candlelight Ball cost $150 and can be purchased by calling Hunter’s Hope at 1-877-984-HOPE.
The Hunter’s Hope Foundation was established in 1997 by Pro Football Hall of Fame member and former Buffalo Bills Quarterback, Jim Kelly, and his wife, Jill, after their infant son, Hunter was diagnosed with Krabbe Leukodystrophy, an inherited, fatal, nervous system disease. The Foundation is the Kelly’s life long commitment to increase public awareness of leukodystrophies as well as to increase the likelihood of early detection and treatment. Their ultimate goal is to raise money to fund research efforts to identify new treatments, therapies, and a cure for Krabbe and other leukodystrophies. To date the Foundation has awarded approximately $3.7 million to leukodystrophy and other neurological disease related research.
For more information about the Candlelight Ball or Hunter’s Hope, visit www.huntershope.org.