Undaunted by the pandemic, patrons of the 47th Annual Snow Ball raised over $3.3 million to support the most vulnerable in our communities.
A year ago, over 2,000 supporters of Catholic Charities Foundation of Northeast Kansas gathered in the Overland Park Convention Center to celebrate a glamorous evening gala. At the time, no one would have imagined how different the 2021 Snow Ball gala would look.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the premier charity gala in the Kansas City area took place virtually on January 16, 2021. Over 200 individual Snow Ball parties were hosted in livings rooms and around dining tables as over a thousand supporters tuned in to our online live programming. Even more patrons participated in Catholic Charities’ work through their generous donations.
“This evening for the first and hopefully only time in the history of the Snow Ball we are celebrating an entirely virtual event,” said Craig Gaffney, 2021 Snow Ball President, in his remarks on January 16th. “While we truly miss celebrating tonight in person with all of you, it has already been a great evening and the celebration has just begun.”
The Snow Ball Tradition Returned to its Potluck Roots
47 years ago, a small group of couples didn’t let a snow storm stop them from celebrating the work of Catholic Charities Foundation of Northeast Kansas. The 47th Annual Snow Ball continued the tradition of coming together to support our neighbors in need, and gave a special nod to the friends-and-family potluck that started it all.
Attendees chose from several different “Snow Ball Party” options, with catering options provided by Fiorella’s Jack Stack and centerpieces by Sidelines Floral. Each package came packed with program booklets, guides for online viewing, food, wine, party favors, and more!
As family and friends celebrated in small groups, they shared their parties using #snowball2021 and participated in a live chat throughout the evening.
A Wide-Reaching Event
A virtual event presents unique opportunities, including an impressive geographic reach! We were joined by over 1,000 attendees across the Archdiocese and beyond. Well over 200 “Snow Ball Parties” took place in thirteen of the 21 counties in our service area and across eleven states.
The Snow Ball Livestream
Mass
The Snow Ball program, which was broadcast from Fiorella’s Event Center, began with a livestreamed Mass officiated by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, D.D.
Pre-Program Reception
After Mass, Snow Ball attendees enjoyed a pre-program reception focused on the critical work of Catholic Charities and the impact the organization has had on the community during the pandemic. Naty Bukaty of Sports Radio 810 emceed the event and interviewed Catholic Charities’ leadership.
Four heartfelt segments entitled “Faith,” “Hope,” “Love,” and “Serve” accompanied these interviews and featured recent footage of Catholic Charities volunteers, staff, and benefactors.