By Jean Ponzi
The sixth annual Green Ball will roll out the green carpet in the Delmar Loop, welcoming our region’s eco-minded movers and shakers for a night of fun philanthropy. Presented by Moonrise Hotel, Green Ball 2015 will be held from 7-11 p.m., Friday, Nov. 6, in celebration of all things sustainable. Proceeds from the gala will benefit EarthWays Center, a division of the Missouri Botanical Garden that promotes sustainability through environmental education and improving the built environment. This year’s Ball especially celebrates an EarthWays milestone: 15 years working through the Garden!
Green Ball Tickets are $50 ($40 for Garden members). Your tickets include a locally-sourced and organic appetizer buffet and open bar with craft beer, regional wine, and artisanal cocktails, prepared by the award-winning staff of the Moonrise Eclipse Restaurant, plus tasting tables of savories and sweets from some of the region’s hottest food purveyors. The Trip Daddys “rockabilly-roots rock ‘n roll blues” will keep this party dancing, while stunning Vivant entertainers roam the crowd. Special guest Eco Elvis will serenade and roam the crowd, setting Earthling hearts a-flutter.
Come dressed in your eco-fashion finest and capture your green glam in the fun custom photo booth. “Creative Green” attire is strongly encouraged. An expert panel of fashion and style judges including Debra Bass, fashion editor at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Nina Ganci, owner of Skif International, will award “Best Dressed” prizes including an overnight stay at the Moonrise Hotel and more to three superbly stylin’ winners. Whether it’s recycled, handmade, eco-friendly, vintage – or simply hued green – designs of all kinds will be in the spotlight.
To highlight the importance of making celebrations Green, this zero-waste event will print all brochures and menus on recycled paper, compost all food waste, recycle all paper and glass, and festoon with eco-friendly décor. St. Louis’ nationally known “best tasting” tap water will be served, rather than bottled water. Free valet parking will be provided to carpools of four or more riders.
“We’re so pleased to partner with the Moonrise for this sixth annual Green Ball,” said Glenda Abney, director of the EarthWays Center. “It’s a fun, festive and fabulous way to raise sustainability awareness in St. Louis. The many Moonrise green features create a beautifully innovative party environment. Green Ball guests will enjoy an unforgettable evening, while supporting the EarthWays Center’s work promoting sustainable choices that benefit the environment.”
The idea for the Green Ball developed in 2010, when the Moonrise Hotel decided to stage an event to celebrate those “living Green” in the St. Louis area and draw attention to local sustainable businesses and organizations. The EarthWays Center seemed a natural beneficiary. The Moonrise Hotel embodies Green features such as hotel-wide recycling and composting, the first hotel-bar open-air roof in America made entirely of solar panels, and an electric vehicle car charging station.
During the event, guests may purchase raffle tickets or bid for premium items of their choice, including gift certificates to local businesses and restaurants, a cruiser bicycle, and much more. All proceeds from the raffle will benefit the EarthWays Center.
Space is limited! Purchase your Green Ball 2015 tickets online at www.mobot.org/greenball or call 314-577-5118.
The Green Ball is hosted by EarthWays Center of the Missouri Botanical Garden. We thank our presenting sponsor, the Moonrise Hotel, and sponsors including Garrett Paper, Microgrid Energy, Office Essentials and The Healthy Planet Magazine.
The EarthWays Center of the Missouri Botanical Garden promotes sustainability through environmental education and improving the built environment, providing green resources for homeowners, businesses, the green building industry, kindergarten through 12th grade schools, colleges, universities and other audiences. Learn more at www.mobot.org/sustainability or call the EarthWays Center at (314) 577-0220.