Local organizations hold benefit events for New Year's Eve

With another celebration of Christmas come and gone, it's likely many people are now making plans for New Year's Eve festivities.

While some may be hosting get-togethers in their home, others may be looking for a night out. To that end, there are several local events planned to help ring in the new year that are offering participants a good time in addition to being for a good cause.

The fourth annual St. Jude New Year's Eve Benefit begins at 5 p.m. Dec. 31 at Ray's at the Plaza, 3257 William St. A catered dinner by Ray's will be served at 6:30 p.m. and scheduled activities include raffles, live and silent auctions, a photo booth and more. There will be an open bar, and The Intention will provide live music from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. All net proceeds will benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.

"It's amazing and life changing to see the work St. Jude does," said organizer Kyle Moyers.

Moyers said the idea for the party grew out of a desire to benefit the pediatric treatment and research facility. He said he and other organizers had a friend whose daughter was diagnosed with leukemia and received treatment at St. Jude. She is now cancer-free.

Partygoers enjoy activities at Grace United Methodist Church’s family-friendly New Year’s Eve event Dec. 31, 2012. (Submitted)

"We spent time at St. Jude and learned about Danny Thomas' mission to help children with cancer," he said. "It hit all of us what a great organization it was. We were very impressed with the work that the hospital does every day to help children."

When the first St. Jude benefit was organized, Moyers said he didn't know how the community would respond.

"We printed 500 tickets," he said, "and we ran out. We raised a ton of money that night, and we hope that we'll be able to do it again. It's going to be a great time."

Tickets are $50 per person or $450 to reserve a table of eight. Tickets may be purchased at Concepts Styling Salon in Cape Girardeau, The Shop in Benton, Mo., or at facebook.com/NewYearsEveSt.JudeBenefit via PayPal. Organizers have reserved rooms at Auburn Place hotel. For more information about the St. Jude New Year's Eve Benefit, contact Pam Dannenmueller at 573-887-1081.

Another scheduled event is the third annual United Way of Southeast Missouri's New Year's Eve party at The Venue, 80 S. Plaza Way.

The festivities at The Venue will be held from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Music will be provided by Forgotten Past and a sound system by Juice Box Entertainment. There will be live and silent auctions, hors d'oeuvres, a late night snack, complimentary champagne toast at midnight and a cash bar. Proceeds will benefit the United Way 2013 Campaign.

"The event will definitely be worth coming to," said Melissa Stickel, director of communications development for the United Way of Southeast Missouri. "It's partying with a purpose."

Tickets are $50. Reserve tickets must be purchased by today at the United Way office, 430A Broadway, or by calling Heather Brune at 334-9634. Tickets may also be purchased at the door. For more information, contact the United Way at 334-9634 or visit unitedwayofsemo.org.

Grace United Methodist Church, 521 Caruthers Ave., will host its second annual a New Year's Eve party that will be family-friendly and alcohol-free.

"It will be good, clean fun," said organizer Cheryl Mothes.

The celebration at Grace will be from 7 p.m. to sometime after midnight, Mothes said. There will be activities for all ages, including games, puzzles, Nintendo Wii, karaoke and movies. There will be a worship service at 11 p.m., and at midnight attendees will gather on the lawn and ring the church bells for the new year.

"My husband and I never had a traditional place to go on New Year's Eve," Mothes said. "We felt that there were others like us who wanted to go to a nonalcoholic and faith-based event. Come one, come all."

There is no charge for Grace's community celebration and families are free to come and go. The church will also offer sleeping rooms for anyone unable to stay awake until midnight. Children must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, contact Grace United Methodist Church at 334-1321.

Other local New Year's Eve celebrations include the New Year's Eve Human Zoo Party from 6:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Mixing 10, 2 N. Main St.; the New Year's Eve retro dance party from 7 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. at the Hi-Dive, 107 N. Main St.; and the New Year's Eve party with Country Pride from 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. at the American Legion Hall in Jackson, 319 N. High St.

klewis@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent addresses: 3257 William St.

80 S. Plaza Way

430A Broadway

521 Caruthers St.

2 N. Main St.

107 N. Main St.

319 High St., Jackson, MO