The Steppingstone Foundation partied like it was 1929 at its annual Crystal Ball, held in the ballroom at the Four Seasons on Friday night. The black-tie Gatsby-themed event drew 400 guests with a dessert buffet and live music, and raised $80,000 for the Foundation’s educational programs for urban youth.
Although the evening may have focused on old-school charm, the target demographic was young professionals. “The Crystal Ball is a way to introduce younger people in Boston to what we do at the Steppingstone Foundation,” said development associate Alison Scheier, who has worked on the Crystal Ball for the last three years. The Foundation’s mission is to develop and implement programs that prepare Boston city schoolchildren for educational opportunities that lead to college.
To sell tickets, the 30-person host committee targeted 23- to 35-year-olds, relying heavily on word of mouth and social networking to sell tickets, according to Scheier. “We added a personal touch, and instead of sending out a Facebook invite, we sent an actual paper invitation in the mail to guests,” she said.
V.I.P. guests sipped Bellinis at a pre-event champagne reception, which featured passed hors d’hoeuvres—among them tuna tartare, sesame chicken, ginger and lemongrass potstickers—from the Four Seasons chefs and floral centerpieces by Ilex Designs.
The foundation kept party decor simple but on-theme by handing out faux pearl necklaces and candy cigarettes at the door and encouraging guests to wear 1920s-inspired garb. Once the ball got under way, guests sipped beer and wine provided by beverage sponsors Samuel Adams Brewery, Narragansett Beer, and Barefoot Wine & Bubbly and sampled a host of bite-sized desserts from a buffet table beside the dance floor. Small tables surrounded the dance floor with votives and vases filled with Lindt chocolates that served as edible centerpieces. Live music by the Flipside got guests dancing after a few hours of drinks and conversation.
In addition to the $100 ticket price, the Foundation also raised funds through a silent auction in which guests could bid on items such as a year’s supply of beer from Samuel Adams and a signed Boston Bruins jersey.
