The Child Advocacy Center is excited to present the Pinwheel Masquerade Ball and Auction to Unmask Child Abuse Oct. 1 from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden.
With prizes and the chance to win “Best Of” in three separate categories — male, female and couples costumes — the Pinwheel Masquerade Ball is the Sandhill’s “premier” fundraising event to “help the Child Advocacy Center protect children and stop abuse.”

The Pinwheel Masquerade Ball is one night when the CAC steps away from its role as the Sandhill’s nexus between trauma focused child advocacy, law enforcement and institutional support systems to thank all of the people, businesses and organizations that play such a pivotal role in bringing the CAC to life.

A few years ago, the CAC decided it wanted a “more elegant affair” than some of its past fundraisers, said CAC Executive Director Roberta Humphries.

“And that’s where the idea for the Pinwheel Masquerade Ball came up.”

Pinwheels for Prevention

Every April, during National Child Abuse Month, on its grounds, the CAC plants dozens of silver and blue shining pinwheels representing each child the CAC served that year. Thanks to the CAC’s many benefactors and sponsors, hundreds of pinwheels greet visitors all over Fayetteville in the spring. The Pinwheel Masquerade Ball is designed to dovetail the official pinwheel planting.

“The pinwheels are a symbol for child abuse prevention [and] basically represent the bright future that all children deserve,” Humphries said. “So, we decided to carry them over to our fundraiser event in the fall.”
The CAC offers pinwheels directly to its “Partners in Prevention,” kits of 25 pinwheels and a yard sign that people can plant at home, a vase with eight pinwheels and a ribbon, plus more “pinwheel gear” that is available for purchase beginning in March at the CAC’s website, Humphries said.

“Basically, the best thing is for people to check back [to] our website as it gets closer to [spring 2023] for pricing on pinwheel items,” Humphries added. “It’s like a once-a-year [promotion] for child abuse prevention month.”

The Pinwheel Masquerade Ball and Auction to Unmask Child Abuse is a semi-formal affair. Black ties and masks are optional. However, what’s the fun of a masquerade ball with no mask?

The CAC moved the Pinwheel Masquerade Ball to the Cape Fear Botanical Garden because it offered more room than some of the other locations it used in the past, Humphries said.

"We can do activities inside the garden’s pavilion and utilize the “garden itself by having a tent [with] people outside, as well.”

Guests at the Ball can look forward to a photo booth and saxophonist in the lobby, a DJ and dance instructors, plus an artist who will create a painting to be auctioned during the Ball. Wine, beer and specialty drinks are $5 per drink. Cigars and spirits are $10 per item. Seating will be available for all guests.
Culinary sponsors include Carrabas, Southern Coals, Dorothy’s Catering 2, The BarBQue Guy, Bees and Boards Charcuterie Company, Carrots Juice Bar and Café, Nona Sushi, Blue Pineapple Bakery, Harris Teeter, Superior Bakery, The Sweet Palette, Blue Moon and Pierro’s. Cape Fear Distillery will sponsor spirits.

Discounted early bird ticket purchases are complete. Tickets may now be purchased for $100 per person, $175 per couple and $1200 per table of eight. One ticket gets each guest two free drink tickets, access to “culinary delights, live and silent actions,” and a “celebratory atmosphere you won’t soon forget.”

Child Advocacy Center Mission

The Child Advocacy Center is a nonprofit organization run by a troupe of women professionals “whose vision is [of] a community where children live in a safe and nurturing environment free from sexual and physical abuse. The center works in tandem with communities like law enforcement, the Department of Social Services and Child advocates to “alleviate the trauma children experience once a disclosure of sexual abuse or serious physical [harm] occurs.”

Though the work the CAC does isn’t easy, it is absolutely vital to the well-being of abused children and their families in Fayetteville and surrounding areas.
Tickets can be purchased online at CACFayNC.org, or directly from the Child Advocacy Center, which is located at 222 Rowan Street in Fayetteville.

For more information about the Pinwheel Masquerade Ball and Auction to Unmask Child Abuse, please visit Facebook.com/PinwheelMasquerade. To learn more about the CAC’s pinwheels, how to donate and/or become a benefactor, CacFayNC.org will be your guide.

When you come down to show support for abused children, the CAC and the women that run it, do not forget your mask, Oct. 1, 7 to 11 p.m. at the Fayetteville Botanical Garden.