In a season reserved for indulging, can you enjoy the eggnog and do some good while drinking it? Yes, you can. On Saturday night, December 15, participate in a decades-long tradition of supporting the Brooklyn Kindergarten Society by attending the annual Yuletide Ball in Brooklyn Heights. This black-tie event is the year’s social highpoint for all of Brooklyn. Nearly a thousand people, including celebrities and political leaders, attended last year’s gala to dance, drink, and eat desserts at the Heights Casino on Montague Street.
The Brooklyn Kindergarten Society operates five pre-schools in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Crown Heights, and Brownsville for 300 of the city’s neediest children. The public funds that BKS receives are not sufficient to deliver the educationally-rich environment these children deserve, so the organization must seek contributions from the public. Slip on a tux or a backless frock, and have a fantastic time knowing that the funds raised at the Yuletide Ball provide early literacy programs, special education, family services, and magical experiences in the arts for these small, underprivileged people.
Can’t make it on Saturday (or the ticket price is a bit steep for your entertainment budget)? Consider making a year-end tax deductible contribution to support an organization that changes the lives of kids and their families. Even a small donation can make a difference.
Tickets to the Yuletide start at $225 each or $150 for juniors under 35. Checks can be made out to the Brooklyn Kindergarten Society, 57 Willoughby Street, 4th floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201. RSVP to 718.623.9803. Donations can also be made through the BKS website: bksny.org. (Questions? Call Michele Newman at 718.623.9803, ext. 15.)
How to get there: Take the 2, 3, 4, 5, M, or R train, then walk just a short few blocks to 75 Montague Street.
Photo: Courtesy BKS
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
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