The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), which serves Henry County and the City of Martinsville, will hold “Wreaths for a Cause” this holiday season.
All are invited to attend the Open House to celebrate the holidays, enjoy prizes and participate in a live and silent auction of wreaths. Tickets are $10 each with proceeds earmarked for the United Way of Danville & Pittsylvania County. Funds from the wreaths will benefit the charity each participating organization designated.
“Every holiday season, we look forward to inviting the public to enjoy decorations in our Institute Conference Center while also giving back to our nonprofits who are so important to the fabric of our community,” said Ellen Bass of IALR. “This is the second year for Wreaths for a Cause, and we hope to raise even more funds than the $16,000 we were fortunate to raise last year.”
The Open House will be held in IALR’s atrium on Dec. 15 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar will be provided. Austin Scher of the Danville Otterbots will serve as master of ceremonies, and Rita Smith of River City Auction will serve as wreath auctioneer. A 7:15 p.m. drawing will award a gift card package from local businesses (currently valued at $250); individuals must be present to win. Open House tickets may be purchased in advance at IALR Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., or at the door event night. Area businesses and organizations create and display wreaths in IALR’s atrium in honor of their selected charities to raise funds in the form of votes, or donations.
The public may visit IALR’s atrium Nov. 28-Dec. 15 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. to vote for wreaths with a donation and to enjoy the festive display. Each charity retains those funds, and the wreath/charity that collects the most money before the Open House will receive a bonus of $1,000. At the Open House, a random drawing of all wreaths will award another $1,000 and $500 to a participating charity. ‘Decorating the Wreaths’ sponsors include Dewberry, JTI, Goodyear, Wilkins and Co., FCS, Riverside Roof Truss and Caesars Virginia. The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research serves Virginia as a regional catalyst for economic transformation with applied research, advanced learning, manufacturing advancement, conference center services and economic development efforts. IALR’s major footprint focuses within Southern Virginia, and also encompasses the counties of Patrick, Franklin, Pittsylvania, Halifax and Mecklenburg along with the City of Danville. For more information, visit www.ialr.org.
