The Emerald Celebration is in its 31st year, and the Dublin Foundation has decided it’s time that its signature event had a makeover.
“We’re keeping the core of the event similar, but we’re trying to make it a little bit more attractive to a new demographic,” says Jennifer Dring, the foundation’s new executive director, who was hired in June 2012. “We’re celebrating our past, recognizing our present and ushering in our future.”
The event, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Feb. 23 at the Columbus Marriott Northwest, 5065 Blazer Pkwy., is the foundation’s major annual fundraiser, raising around $15,000 yearly for grants to Dublin-area nonprofits.
In keeping with the city’s theme for the year, the VIP reception at 5:30 p.m. will feature the Presidents Cup, which is on its tour through the city leading up to the golf tournament in October. The event will be an “intimate gathering of community leaders” with a wine tasting featuring selections from countries around the globe, Dring says.
Cocktail hour begins at 6:30 p.m. and will focus on this year’s honorees, Bob and Sharon Adamek. Honorees each year are community volunteers who have resided or worked in the Dublin area for an extended time, with contributions that benefit the community in many ways.
Bob was previously on the foundation’s Board of Governors and is currently president of the board for the Dublin Counseling Center. Both Bob and Sharon served on committees for the 2012 Dublin Irish Festival.
To introduce the foundation’s work to those who might not be familiar with it, several of the groups that have benefited from past grant cycles will be on hand. High school robotics students, whom the Dublin Foundation supported through a $2,500 grant in 2010, are building a robot that putts golf balls. “Attendees are going to have a chance to try to beat the robot,” Dring says.
Artwork from Shifting Perspectives: In the Community, a photographic exhibition curated by the Dublin Arts Council – and funded by a $2,500 grant from the foundation – will be on display. Other former grant awardees present will include representatives from KidSMILES Pediatric Dental Clinic and the Dublin Food Pantry.
After cocktail hour, the international theme begun at the wine tasting will continue through dinner with food stations representing different global cuisines.
“Rather than having a formal, sit-down dinner, we wanted to have something a little more energetic,” Dring says.
Entertainment will be provided by popular Columbus-based band MojoFlo. A raffle will also be held, with one ticket for $20 and three for $50. The grand prize is $2,000, and a variety of other winners for items such as rounds of golf will be drawn throughout the evening.
Dring hopes the new approach to the traditional event will draw a bigger crowd than has turned out in recent years.
“Our attendance has been down in the past few years. There’s a new generation in Dublin that doesn’t know what the Emerald Celebration is and doesn’t think it’s for them. … I want everyone to know that they’re welcome,” Dring says. “Our focus this year is getting more people in the door.”
Tickets are $150 each, $1,500 for a Community Partner table of 10 with two VIP tickets and in pre- and post-event marketing, or $1,200 for a table of 10 through the new Neighbor For Neighbor option, all available online at www.dublinfoundation.org.
“We’re encouraging five couples to chip in their money, come out for the evening and support the community,” Dring says. “The foundation is here to invest in the community, and it’s a ‘Thank you’ to the people who have given a lot of great support to the foundation.”
Lisa Aurand is editor of Dublin Life Magazine. Feedback welcome at laurand@cityscenemediagroup.com.
