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Star treatment for participants at Girls Inc.’s Red and White Ball

Sometimes, just looking like a million bucks is all it takes to feel like a million bucks. Such thinking has always been at the heart of the Red and White Ball, an event organized every year by Girls Incorporated of Memphis. by Shawn Pachucki
Special to the Tri-State Defender

Sometimes, just looking like a million bucks is all it takes to feel like a million bucks. Such thinking has always been at the heart of the Red and White Ball, an event organized every year by Girls Incorporated of Memphis.

Left to Right: Tavia West (Whitehaven-Lanier Center) escorted by her step-father; Tiara Woods (South Park Center) escorted by her father, Vincent Woods; Teariney Nolen (Riverview-Kansas Center) escorted by her uncle, Deon Jefferson; Skylar Booth (LDT Center) escorted by her godfather, Reginald Baker; and Rekeitha Ward (Midtown Center) escorted by her father, Keith Ward.

Ciera Lewis, after being crowned Miss Red & White Ball.  She was escorted by her uncle, Anthony Winters. (Courtesy photos)

More than 30 girls representing all six Girls Inc. centers in Memphis were dressed to perfection as they made their way into the annual Red and White Ball at the Candlelight Ballroom on Feb. 19. Each girl was treated like a star as they arrived by limousine and waltzed across the red carpet, showing off their elegant white evening gowns and dazzling hairstyles to a crowd of supportive friends and family members that even included the reigning Miss Memphis, Ivy DePew.

Undoubtedly, the first dance provided the most touching moment of the evening. Tears streamed from the eyes of nearly everyone in attendance as the melody of Luther VanDross’ “Dance with My Father Again” played in the background while each girl danced arm-in-arm with their father or another significant male figure in their life.

By offering an opportunity for every young girl served by Girls Inc. to feel like a princess for a night, the Red and White Ball has been one of the organization’s most unique and powerful ways of building self-confidence.

“The Red and White Ball is a time for the girls to be treated as the special little ladies that they are,” said Deborah Hester-Harrison, President/CEO of Girls Inc. of Memphis.

“They need to know what it’s like to be surrounded with love and respect, so they will demand that from every relationship they encounter.”

In the weeks leading up to the Red and White Ball, girls raised money to support Girls Inc. programs.

(For more information, visit www.girlsincmemphis.org.)