Ladies and gentlemen, for those of you who don’t know who I am, my name is Mario Rodriguez. I wanted to take some time to talk with you about This year’s Ball, the Revalesco Ball.
I am so proud of the work the team is putting in to this ball. We have every venue and vendor booked, and booked way further in advance than we ever have in years past. Meaning we have 5 months to refine and improve the aspects of the ball that matter. that is a lot of time to go over every single moment on the ball, and I couldn’t imagine doing that without the people who have said yes to being a shaper of this event. I have learned a lot from the people around me.
I wanted to talk to you because the reality of our time is that our dollar buys less, and as a result what dollars we do get are very precious. As someone who has gone from barely scraping by as a couch surfer to scraping by as a husband and father, I understand that fact very well. I am grateful for every hour I get at work, and I am grateful for every opportunity I have been given to make whatever more supplemental income I was given as well. Fruitful or not, I learned a lot from it, and the biggest thing I learned its I have only made it to were I am by the grace of God and the kindness of his people.
kindness I am now Directly asking for. Not for my sake, but for the sake of people who have never experienced the community and beauty that the Banquet and Ball can bring to their lives.
In order to ensure our Accessibility, We are publishing our donation page; dedicated solely to helping first time attendees and people experiencing financial catastrophe attend the Ball. The donations are considered a tax deductible donation as we are not operating as an LLC this year, and I am looking into starting a dedicated nonprofit entity to ensure our ability to help others is secure going forward as we look to transition into an LLC.
If you are reading this, it’s because you are someone who has attended the ball in years past. You know the power of the Banquet Ball to transform lives, and while it probably means something different to each and every one of you, you know that it means a lot to everyone who has gone. Even if you yourself find that you have outgrown us, I ask that you help me help others the way that I was helped when I first went.
I love each and every one of you reading this. I got to share one of the most precious experiences of my life with you, and now I have the Honor of creating this experience for others. Thank you for investing in me. Even if you chose not to donate, The Banquet and Ball is only as great as the people who attend, and each and every one of you helped change my life. I owe you all more than can be repaid, and for that I honor you.
With Gratitude, Mario Rodriguez
Director of the 2024 Banquet and Ball
Yakima Valley Society for Cultural Education is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt non-profit corporation. Your donation may be tax deductible, depending on your tax considerations. If you donate more than $250, we will provide a donation acknowledgement upon request. Please note your desire for a donation acknowledgement in the comments field at the time of check out.