KINGSTON, N.Y. – Oct. 13, 2016 –The HealthAlliance Foundation's fourth annual Vampire Ball, at 6 p.m. Oct. 29, will showcase local art and businesses with a Halloween twist.
Held for the first time at Saugerties' Diamond Mills Hotel & Tavern, the costume party fundraiser presented by Tonner Doll Co. and benefitting HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley, a member of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth), offers several new tricks and treats.
Most noticeable will be a "Haunted Fairway," a spooky zone of Halloween-themed attractions and merchants. Costumed vendors from Ulster County businesses such as Kingston's Petalos Floral Design, Enchanted Cakes and Carole Shiber Designs will peddle their wares under the menacing gaze of lifesize statues of the Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees characters from the "Halloween" slasher film series. Broadway Photo Booth will capture the ball's macabre moments, or guests can pose with the ball's signature, larger-than-life vampire teeth. Other fairway hot spots will include Tonner Doll's Severed Head Toss and the countless creations of balloon twister Mr. Unpoppable.
Another addition to this year's party will be durable foam pumpkins hand-decorated by Hudson Valley artists. The pumpkins will be transformed into works of art by Toni Carlone, Linda Cecilio, Don Kline, Polly Law, Linda Tucker, Deborah Trager and Susan York, and put up to bid in the gala night's silent auction.
"We're always looking for ways to make the Vampire Ball even more spectacular for our guests," said ball Chairman and Tonner Doll owner Robert Tonner. "The fairway and the pumpkins are an opportunity to show off the creativity and talent of our local community and add to the night's festivities."
As in previous years, a costume contest will be a part of those festivities. The contest will award event-goers wearing the Scariest, Funniest, Most Original, Most Glamorous and Best Group costumes. Winners will receive a one-of-a-kind trophy, ghoulishly handcrafted by Tonner Doll's Michelle Hodge.
Tonner Doll is also contributing the event's centerpieces, an Ellowyne Wilde doll, depicting a weary fashion diva, with limited-edition accessories created especially for the ball. The dolls will be available for purchase for $125 at the end of the evening.
Proceeds from the event and the doll sale will benefit the HealthAlliance Foundation's mission to support the programs, services and facilities of HealthAlliance. "Our focus," said foundation Executive Director Steffen Kraehmer, "is on funding state-of-the-art medical technology, treatment advances and training opportunities to enhance staff expertise."
Tickets to attend the Vampire Ball are $135. Call 845-334-2760 or visit FoundationUpdate.org to make a reservation.
The Vampire Ball is sponsored by Tonner Doll Co., Greater New York Hospital Association, Rose & Kiernan Inc., Scanlon's Cleaning & Restoration, Turner Construction, Fust Charles Chambers LLP, M&T Bank, Mobile Life Support Services, American Anesthesiology, Dutton Architecture PLLC, Emergency Medical Associates, Susan and Demetri Karayannides, Joe and Debbie Marsicovete, Safeco Alarm Systems, Ulster Federal Credit Union, CBHV, Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp., MidHudsonNews.com, Rondout Savings Bank, SVN | Deegan-Collins Commercial Realty, Kingston Candy Bar and Radio Woodstock 100.1.
About The HealthAlliance Foundation
The HealthAlliance Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting the mission, healthcare programs, services and facilities of HealthAlliance, a member of Westchester Medical Center Health Network. The Foundation continues to focus on supporting technology and equipment, high quality treatment services, and training for hospital staff at both the Broadway and Mary's Avenue campuses. For more information, visit www.FoundationUpdate.org.
About HealthAlliance, a member of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network
HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley operates a 315-hospital bed healthcare system comprising HealthAlliance Hospital: Mary's Avenue Campus and HealthAlliance Hospital: Broadway Campus in Kingston, New York, and Margaretville Hospital in Margaretville, New York. It also operates Mountainside Residential Care Center, an 82-bed facility in Margaretville. As Ulster County's largest employer, HealthAlliance is committed to attracting the best-qualified medical and support staff; providing outstanding, responsive, coordinated, compassionate patient- and family-centered care; excelling in clinical outcomes and patient experiences; and ensuring patient rights, privacy and respect are honored at all times, while improving the overall health and well-being of the diverse communities it serves. For more information about how HealthAlliance is delivering the promise of medicine, visit hahv.org or follow Facebook.com/HealthAllianceHV or Twitter.com/HAllianceHudVal.