Virginia Cattle Baron's Ball Raises $651,000 for ACS

Due to COVID-19 precautions, the Virginia Cattle Baron’s Ball, which was a joint effort combing the Richmond and Roanoke events, was held virtually on Saturday, Oct. 17, and raised over $651,000 to support the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) lifesaving mission.

The Cattle Baron’s Ball is the ACS’s signature western event with more than 50 Cattle Baron events nationwide. The Virginia Cattle Baron’s Ball is a Western-themed gala and a premier event in the Richmond area. 2019 was the inaugural year for the Roanoke event.

NBC12’s Anthony Antoine and Andrew Freiden served as cohosts along with Kevin Pauley as the event’s auctioneer. The virtual production was simulcast on NBC12, Facebook and YouTube. Participants enjoyed live music from Richmond-band Main Street Station. In addition to the music, fabulous live and silent auction were the highlight of the event including a car raffle donated by presenting sponsor Haley Automotive Group. The Raffle winner was Mike Scelzo of Mechanicsville who is the father of a pediatric leukemia survivor.

An additional highlight of the evening was the Mission Drive which raised $106,150 to support the ACS’s research and postdoctoral fellowships programs. The ACS is currently investing over $420 million into 749 research grants across the country. There are currently 16 active grants at Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Virginia totaling $10.7 million.

“We are thrilled to support such a unique and amazing event. The success of this event is thanks to our sponsors, committee members, volunteers and to the community,” said Cattle Barons Chair Clarence Williams, who co-chaired the event with his wife Carol. “As a two-time cancer survivor, it was an honor to support the American Cancer Society. The dollars raised ensure that lifesaving research and patient programs will continue despite the challenges presented due to the pandemic."

Every dollar raised at the Cattle Baron’s Ball allows the ACS to help people facing a cancer diagnosis today, educate people about how to reduce their risk for cancer or detect it early when it’s the easiest to treat, and fund cancer research that will help protect future generations.

For more information on the 2020 Virginia Cattle Baron’s Ball, please contact Danette Hodges at (804) 212-6656 or visit www.richmondcattlebaronsball.org.

You can view the 2020 Virginia Cattle Baron's Ball on YouTube if you missed it.

About the American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of nearly 2 million volunteers dedicated to saving lives, celebrating lives, and leading the fight for a world without cancer. From breakthrough research, to free lodging near treatment, a 24/7/365 live helpline, free rides to treatment, and convening powerful activists to create awareness and impact, the Society is the only organization attacking cancer from every angle. For more information go to www.cancer.org.