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Friday, September 24, was the 17th Annual Golden Tassel Gala, the perennial fundraiser for Jefferson Dollars for Scholars. The event was held at the Pontchartrain Center and welcomed more than 800 teachers, parents and community members to an evening of food, fun and fundraising for students.
The patron party, held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Belle Grove Ballroom, featured music from Spool and the Gang and food from Galatoire’s, GW Fins, TPC Louisiana and Cottage Catering.
The main event had everyone’s feet tapping – guests partook in food from more than 60 restaurants and enjoyed a special ballroom exhibition featuring Jefferson Parish Public School System Dance Challenge team winners Gretna No. 2 Academy and Bissonet Plaza Elementary. Other dancers included Jill Hezeau, Jefferson Parish Councilmember-at-Large John Young, East Bank Superintendent Jeff Helmstetter and West Bank Superintendent Carolyn Van Norman, who performed choreographed dance routines judged by Becky Allen and Maureen and John “Spud” McConnell.
After the ballroom exhibition, Vince Vance and the Valiants (of “All I Want for Christmas is You” fame – the original, not the Mariah Carey version) performed and kept the dancing going.
A silent auction featured autographed memorabilia from the New Orleans Saints and Hornets, jewelry from Aucoin Hart and Mignon Faget, hotel stays at The Roosevelt and more. Henry Shane hosted a live auction that featured a trip to Sonoma County with private wine tastings, Saints suite tickets and more.
