News at St. Catherine's
Times-Dispatch: Bal du Bois this year features three co-leaders
St. Catherine's alumnae are serving as two of the three co-leaders for this weekend's event.
MARSHA POLIER GROSSMAN
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
Published: May 31, 2009
The 53rd annual Bal du Bois, hosted by the Junior Board of Sheltering Arms Physical and Rehabilitation Hospital, will be held Friday night at the Country Club of Virginia to present its 2009 sponsors.
Thirty-six young women will participate in the hospital's signature event and one of Richmond's greatest traditions. Highlighting this white-tie formal occasion will be their introductions with a traditional curtsey, the "figure" where they lead the other sponsors through intersecting figure-eights at the center of the dance floor, and the father-daughter dance. Sponsors will be presented by their fathers and escorted by brothers, cousins or close friends.
In the past, the "figure" was typically led by one leader. This year, three sponsoring families have been honored by the selection of their daughters as co-leaders.
"Each represents a family that has demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting the hospital's mission of providing care to all patients regardless of their ability to pay. Families like these are critical to the hospital's success because they directly connect the hospital and the community it serves," said sponsor chairwoman Karen Wise.
Friends since summer camp 13 years ago, the co-leaders are: Evelina "Lina" Nollen Massie Scott, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. Strother Scott; and cousins Eugenie Elizabeth Valentine, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas B. Valentine; and Sarah "Sazshy" Gordon Valentine, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. Massie Valentine.
Over the years, their mothers, grandmothers, and aunts have been Bal chairs, sponsors, Junior Board officers and members of the Women's Council. Scott's grandfather Dr. John Robert Massie Jr. contributed his services as a surgeon to the hospital. Her mother, Evie Scott, served on the Women's Council. In the 1920s, Lina Scott's great-great-aunt Frances Scott Branch founded the Junior Board. Both Eugenie Valentine's mother, Deborah, and Sazshy Valentine's mother, Margaret, were Junior Board presidents and Bal chairs.
The leaders are college seniors and share similar emotions about their roles as Bal leaders.
"My family and I are grateful for the honor and pleased to support the hospital, a wonderful provider of physical rehabilitation," said Lina Scott. "I think it's important to find a few causes that you're really concerned about and support them, whether it's through fundraising, donations, or dedicating your own time. Spending your own time is probably the most rewarding and helpful, so I hope I can do that in the future." Her escorts will be brother Strother Scott and friends Russell Sharpe and Davis Walker. She is a graduate of Collegiate School and is an English major at University of Virginia.
Sazshy Valentine, a St. Catherine's graduate and also a student at U.Va., is majoring in history and government. "My parents and I are happy to be a part of such a large group of people who are helping the hospital. That I am a leader is an honor to the work my mom has done for the Bal and Sheltering Arms. It is exciting to be participating for the first time in a large fundraiser - one that will help so many people and families. I definitely look forward to more fundraising in my future, especially because I would like to work for a nonprofit organization after I graduate," she said. She will be escorted by brother Massie Valentine and cousin Gordon Valentine.
"I think community service should be an important part of everyone's lives," said Eugenie Valentine, a graduate of St. Catherine's who is studying business administration at the College of Charleston. Her escorts will be friends Wyck Baruch, Thomas Hovis and Matthew Conrad.
"I am thrilled to be able to represent my peers as a leader of the Bal and be a sponsor for a great group of people and for such a wonderful cause. It is a privilege and it will be really fun. I just hope I don't trip when I'm presented," Eugenie Valentine said, referring to the deep curtsey to the audience required of each sponsor as she is introduced on the dance floor.
"I'm a little nervous about the presentation, but I've heard it's always beautiful, and I know a lot of people have worked hard to plan it, so I'm excited to take part," Scott said.
"I grew up or went to school with many of the sponsors," said Sazshy Valentine. "This has been a fun month with all of us coming home and reuniting for the Bal. We have so many funny memories so I'm glad it's bringing us all together."
Marsha Polier Grossman is a Chesterfield County freelance photographer. She can be contacted at tuda2@comcast.net.
Back
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
Published: May 31, 2009
The 53rd annual Bal du Bois, hosted by the Junior Board of Sheltering Arms Physical and Rehabilitation Hospital, will be held Friday night at the Country Club of Virginia to present its 2009 sponsors.
Thirty-six young women will participate in the hospital's signature event and one of Richmond's greatest traditions. Highlighting this white-tie formal occasion will be their introductions with a traditional curtsey, the "figure" where they lead the other sponsors through intersecting figure-eights at the center of the dance floor, and the father-daughter dance. Sponsors will be presented by their fathers and escorted by brothers, cousins or close friends.
In the past, the "figure" was typically led by one leader. This year, three sponsoring families have been honored by the selection of their daughters as co-leaders.
"Each represents a family that has demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting the hospital's mission of providing care to all patients regardless of their ability to pay. Families like these are critical to the hospital's success because they directly connect the hospital and the community it serves," said sponsor chairwoman Karen Wise.
Friends since summer camp 13 years ago, the co-leaders are: Evelina "Lina" Nollen Massie Scott, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. Strother Scott; and cousins Eugenie Elizabeth Valentine, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas B. Valentine; and Sarah "Sazshy" Gordon Valentine, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. Massie Valentine.
Over the years, their mothers, grandmothers, and aunts have been Bal chairs, sponsors, Junior Board officers and members of the Women's Council. Scott's grandfather Dr. John Robert Massie Jr. contributed his services as a surgeon to the hospital. Her mother, Evie Scott, served on the Women's Council. In the 1920s, Lina Scott's great-great-aunt Frances Scott Branch founded the Junior Board. Both Eugenie Valentine's mother, Deborah, and Sazshy Valentine's mother, Margaret, were Junior Board presidents and Bal chairs.
The leaders are college seniors and share similar emotions about their roles as Bal leaders.
"My family and I are grateful for the honor and pleased to support the hospital, a wonderful provider of physical rehabilitation," said Lina Scott. "I think it's important to find a few causes that you're really concerned about and support them, whether it's through fundraising, donations, or dedicating your own time. Spending your own time is probably the most rewarding and helpful, so I hope I can do that in the future." Her escorts will be brother Strother Scott and friends Russell Sharpe and Davis Walker. She is a graduate of Collegiate School and is an English major at University of Virginia.
Sazshy Valentine, a St. Catherine's graduate and also a student at U.Va., is majoring in history and government. "My parents and I are happy to be a part of such a large group of people who are helping the hospital. That I am a leader is an honor to the work my mom has done for the Bal and Sheltering Arms. It is exciting to be participating for the first time in a large fundraiser - one that will help so many people and families. I definitely look forward to more fundraising in my future, especially because I would like to work for a nonprofit organization after I graduate," she said. She will be escorted by brother Massie Valentine and cousin Gordon Valentine.
"I think community service should be an important part of everyone's lives," said Eugenie Valentine, a graduate of St. Catherine's who is studying business administration at the College of Charleston. Her escorts will be friends Wyck Baruch, Thomas Hovis and Matthew Conrad.
"I am thrilled to be able to represent my peers as a leader of the Bal and be a sponsor for a great group of people and for such a wonderful cause. It is a privilege and it will be really fun. I just hope I don't trip when I'm presented," Eugenie Valentine said, referring to the deep curtsey to the audience required of each sponsor as she is introduced on the dance floor.
"I'm a little nervous about the presentation, but I've heard it's always beautiful, and I know a lot of people have worked hard to plan it, so I'm excited to take part," Scott said.
"I grew up or went to school with many of the sponsors," said Sazshy Valentine. "This has been a fun month with all of us coming home and reuniting for the Bal. We have so many funny memories so I'm glad it's bringing us all together."
Marsha Polier Grossman is a Chesterfield County freelance photographer. She can be contacted at tuda2@comcast.net.
Located in the heart of Richmond, Virginia, St. Catherine’s School is a private, all-girls pre-K, kindergarten, elementary, middle and high school. We provide a well-rounded educational experience for girls from communities across Richmond, Chesterfield, Henrico and all of central Virginia. St.Catherine’s all-girls educational experience is rooted in more than a century of history and tradition. From our revolutionary past to our dynamic present, St. Catherine’s has always focused on preparing students for a boundless future.
