This year’s ball was held on Saturday, June 6th, and our theme was Bowl Full of Soul. The ball was held outside MANNA’s warehouses, along the banks of the Swannanoa River. Ticket holders enjoyed small tasting plates from over twenty of Asheville’s finest restaurants including Biltmore, Chestnut, Cantina at Biltmore Village, Lobster Trap, Red Stag Grill, Biscuit Head, the French Broad Chocolate Lounge, and many more as well as a varied selection of beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages.
The Blue Jean Ball is MANNA’s largest fundraising event, where enough money was raised this year to provide food for almost a quarter million meals. Current estimates in our region indicate that over 108,000 people in Western North Carolina don’t have continuous access to three square meals a day. MANNA partners with 248 agencies throughout our region to get food to those facing hunger. In 2014, MANNA distributed enough food to provide 34,000 meals a day throughout the 16 counties in WNC.
An amazing not-so-silent auction was held during the ball, with over one hundred fabulous items and packages to choose from. Items were donated from: 131 Main Restaurant, 2 On Crescent, Ad-Lib, Aloft Asheville Downtown, Asheville Racquet Club, Asheville Yoga Center, B.B. Barnes, Michelle Bailey, Barley’s Taproom & Pizzeria, Battery Park Book Exchange, Lenore & Joe Baum, Bella Solé Studio, Jess Benton, Joy Benton, Bette Boutique, Black Mountain Yarn Shop, Blue, Bohême, Brixx, Katie Button, Caravans at the Grove Arcade, Carmen! Carmen! Prestige Salon at Belk, Chestnut Hill Salon & Spa, Inc., The Cliffs at Walnut Cove, Ann Cowden, Jillian Elizabeth Dalal, Doc Chey’s Noodle House, Duncan & York, Earth Fare, Dr. Laura Ellis, Enter the Earth, Europa, Fine Arts Theatre, Flat Rock Playhouse, Foot Rx Asheville, Lutie Fox, Sandy Friedlander, frock, The Gardener’s Cottage, Gigi & Sugar/Wendy Willey, Nancy Goodwin, Aimee Harner, Dave Harner, Hendersonville Country Club, Hickory Tavern, Hilton Asheville Biltmore Park, Michael Hofman, Hotel Indigo – Asheville Downtown, Karen Into, John Laughter Jewelry, Jonas Gerard Fine Art, Brigitte Knauf, Greg Lathrop – Licensed HeartMath Coach, Laurie Prophater Jewelry, Linden Boutique, The Local Joint, Lululemon Athletica, Hal & Laura Mahan, Makeup at the Grove Arcade, Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café, Massage Envy Spa Asheville, Mast General Stores, Wendell & Wilma Maxwell, Tracey McBride, Mellie Mac’s Garden Shack, The Merry Wine Market, Mora Jewelry, Mountain Nest, Karen Nowlin/The Skin Sanctuary, Louise O’Connor, O.P. Taylor’s, Oil & Vinegar Asheville, Orvis, Jose Said Osio, Mario Pando/Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, Periwinkles, Pura Vida Gallery, Rezaz Restaurant, Rhubarb, Jon Michael Riley, Roberto Coin Boutique, Rose’s Garden Shop, Salt Cave Asheville, Karen Sanders, Second Gear, Sensibilities Day Spa, Seven Sisters Gallery, Short Street Cakes, SimplyHome, Sky Valley Zip Tours, The Soapy Dog/The Sleepy Dog, Southern Tee Golf, William Sprowls, Dr. Stamatiades/Zöe Dental, Susan Marie Designs, The Gorge Zip Line, Third Messenger, Three Dog Bakery, Thyme in the Garden, Travinia Italian Kitchen, Maria Andrade Troya, True Confections, Twist Boutique/Lisa Thompson, Van Dyke Jewelry and Fine Crafts, Vaso de Vino Wine Market, Veranda Café, Rachel Weisberg, Wildwater, Wink Salon, WNC Knitters & Crocheters for Others, Yesterday’s Tree, YMCA of Western North Carolina. Thank you to all of the silent auction donors!
