12th Annual Masquerade Ball Was A Huge Success

The Graduate Providence (formerly the Providence Biltmore) was transformed into a Royal Garden Party on Friday, November 18, 2022 for Sojourner House’s 12^th annual Masquerade Ball fundraiser. Over 400 guests came dressed in their best gala attire for the event, which was hosted by Trinity Repertory’s Joe Wilson, Jr. and featured live music from Toys 2 Men, Hasbro’s Corporate Employee Band as well as a special appearance by The Extraordinary Rendition Band. DJ Justin Case closed out the evening with music and dancing, and guests enjoyed desserts donated by Johnson & Wales Culinary School.

The Masquerade Ball was sponsored by over five dozen corporate businesses, with Amica Insurance, Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick, and Navigant Credit Union as featured leading sponsors. In total, the event grossed over $190,000 for Sojourner House’s programs and services dedicated to serving victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. This revenue total is the largest amount Sojourner House has ever raised from a single fundraising event in its 46-year history.

Vanessa Volz, Sojourner House’s Executive Director, was appreciative of the support the agency received at the event. “We are incredibly grateful to our community for their ongoing support of our growing work. This past year has again been marked by remarkable growth for our agency. Since our 2019 fiscal year, our budget has more than tripled. We opened a public-facing office in Woonsocket last year, and this calendar year we have purchased three new buildings, including a new mixed-use property in the West End of Providence that will allow us to provide more office space for our growing staff. This growth and the impact we have on the community wouldn't be possible without the generosity of our donors.”