Black & White Ball Puts WDI in the Black

Talk was instrumental in the creation of the First Annual Black and White Ball to benefit Wilmington Downtown, Inc. (WDI). The event sold out in 2004 and 2005 and exceeded fundraising goals each year.

The event needed to both raise money and awareness for WDI. With many formal fundraisers in town, it was imperative that this event be unique in all aspects. The organization's goals and history informed the theme of the event, which payed homage to Truman Capote's original Black & White ball. In addition to ticket sales, the primary fundraising vehicle of the event was an art auction, which spotlighted the important role that both fine arts and cultural arts play in the vibrancy and economic development of downtown Wilmington. In the tradition of Capote's party, men wore black tie and ladies formal attire in black or white. Cigarette girls patrolled the event, selling cigars, masks and raffle tickets. To create the "buzz" necessary to generate attendance at a first-year event, the invitation was a spectacular piece that housed a "little black book" that featured the entire invitee list. In 2005, a release piggybacked on the premiere of the feature film Capote that coincided with the timing of the event. The event sold out each year and raised $25,000 in 2004 and $30,000 in 2005. The events earned widespread media coverage before and after the event in local magazines and newspapers. Talk won a Silver Addy's award for the event invitation in both 2004 and 2005.