Governor’s Ball A Success Despite The Snow

By: Elizabeth Connolly
Posted In: News

Salve Regina University’s 27th Annual Governor’s Ball was postponed Saturday, Dec. 6, due to inclement weather at the request of Gov. Donald Carcieri. The event was rescheduled for the following night at 9 p.m. in Ochre Court. The Governor’s Ball is a black-tie event held yearly at Salve to raise money for student scholarships. The event was started in 1977 with the support of Gov. J. Joseph Garrahy and his wife Margherite as a way to provide scholarship assistance to Salve students. A total of $2.7 million has been raised over the years to support scholarships, thanks in part to those who attend the event.

This year’s Governor’s Ball was a huge success thanks to the help of many student volunteers, especially Sigma Phi Sigma, Salve’s mercy honor society. It is important to members of the Sigma chapter to help volunteer, which comes from the Sisters of Mercy mission. Students of Sigma arrived at Ochre Court Sunday evening at 7:30 p.m. and stayed until 2 a.m. to help clean up. Students helped check coats, serve food, and greet guests. Sigma members especially enjoyed the fashions different people were wearing and the various festivities throughout the night. “They (the fasions) are very interesting, one guy came in a kilt and there was a very memorable green sequin dress,” said Sigma member, Melanie Sapienza.

The other festivities included a Silent Auction that featured Leo De Vroomen earrings donated by Three Golden Apples, an early-1800s China trade Camphor Box donated by Leonard’s Antiques, and a selection of 18 different wines donated by Chris Gasbarro’s Fine Wine and Spirits.

In addition to thanking Sigma, university President M. Therese Antone issued a memorandum giving a special thanks to Kim and Howard Sutton who chaired this year’s ball. Howard Sutton is chairman of the Governor’s Ball board, publisher, president, and CEO of the Providence Journal. The Governor’s Ball raised $275,000 for student scholarships this year at Salve. The weather may have delayed the ball, but it was still a huge success!