Page 28 - South Mississippi Living - August, 2017

PEOPLE decade of dance
Celebrating 100 Years of Service to Mississippi and ten years of dancing
W story by Lynn Lofton photos courtesy of American Red Cross
hen the crowd gathers on August 19 for Moonlight & Magnolias, attendees will
be celebrating two anniversaries in addition to raising funds for the Southeast Mississippi Chapter of the American Red Cross. It will be the tenth anniversary of the popular fundraiser and the 100th anniversary of the Red Cross in Mississippi. Festivities are at the Beau Rivage Casino Resort from 7 to 10 p.m.
Duncan McKenzie, the 2017 Humanitarian Award.
“We invite you to join us for an evening of celebration at the 10th Annual Moonlight and Magnolias Gala,” Chapter Executive John McFarland said. “It will be a spectacular evening of food, music, dancing — including a dance competition — and fun! Also, we will recognize the 100 years of service by the Red Cross.”
The Southeast Mississippi Chapter serves the counties of Harrison, Hancock, Jackson, Pearl River, Stone, George, Greene, Perry, Forrest, Lamar, Marion, Jefferson Davis
and Covington. “When disasters of any kind strike, the Red Cross is there to help,” McFarland said.
Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves is the honorary gala chairman and Jonathan Brannan of WLOX- TV is the master of ceremonies.
The recipient of the 2017 Humanitarian Award is Duncan McKenzie, vice president and general manager of IP Casino Resort & Spa. He is the former president of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau, past chair of the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic, past chair for the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community Foundation and served a two-year term as the chair of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce. He currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Gulf Coast Business Council and is a member of the Mississippi Economic Council.
“The Moonlight & Magnolias Gala has become a signature event on the Mississippi Coast and it gets better every year,” said gala committee co-chairs Jennifer Lee and Ashley Endris. “It’s a hot ticket, but the best part is that we’re raising a lot of money to support our local Red Cross chapter.”
28 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • August 2017 FOR MORE REFLECTIONS OF THE GULF COAST >> www.smliving.net