M1Ball Kick Off Event
Over 100 business and community leaders gathered at Glenn Beck’s Mercury Studios to hear the announcements for the M1Ball benefiting Mercury One, the nonprofit organization founded by him and his wife, Tania.
Everyone agreed it is a real treat to be invited to a private party at such an exclusive location, inside the working radio and TV studio at Stage 19, named after Orson Welles’ Sound Stage at Universal.
Anticipation filled the room as guests entered the biggest TV and movie studio between New York and Hollywood in daily production where they were greeted with the bigger-than-life sized robots from the 2013 live-production and movie Man In The Moon and joined in the reception in the studios where films such as RoboCop, JFK, Silkwood, Born on the 4th of July and Problem Child were all filmed as well as shows like Walker, Texas Ranger and Barney.
Setting the scene on one side of the studio were ten-foot tall photographs from a mission in Iraq last fall and on the other side, a stage was set with pop culture icons and pieces of historical, political and spiritual items reflecting America and its history.
Mercury One’s executive director Suzanne Bock Grishman welcomed the crowd and gave some background about Mercury One, a 501(c)(3) charity founded in 2011. The organization’s focus is in three different areas: Humanitarian Aid, including disaster relief, help for veterans, support in the fight against human trafficking; Education Initiatives and The Nazarene Fund, which are depicted in tall posters placed around the studio.
She explained the initiatives and programs the foundation supports, including most recently sponsoring the Dallas Film Society’s High School Roundtables in the 2017 and 2018 academic year, their High School Day and Stand to Honor in Dallas honoring veterans. Mercury One’s initiatives include providing programs to individuals to advance the skills, knowledge and attitudes necessary for communities to help themselves as well as assisting our nation’s veterans, providing aid to those in crisis, and rebuilding and restoring the lives of Christians and other persecuted religious minorities in the Middle East.
Glenn shared a story about one of the huge photographs depicting a bombed-out church sanctuary in Batnaya, which had become Isis headquarters and through help from Mercury One’s The Nazarene Fund, citizens were given job training, clothing and are helping rebuild their church.
The big announcement of the evening brought a resounding round of applause, this year’s M1Ball chairs, D’Andra Simmons Lock and her husband, Jeremy Lock, who had toured that site in Iraq last fall.
Taking the stage, D’Andra and Jeremy gave a heartfelt and emotional retelling of their experiences in touring Iraq and the impact that has had on their lives, which was the strongest influence that has led them to the commitment as ball chairs this year. Jeremy said that not since his retirement from the Air Force in 2013 has he felt the sense of purpose and camaraderie than with this organization, which they have seen save lives, and he and D’Andra are truly honored to be on board.
They also announced honorary chairs Francie Moody-Dahlberg and her husband, Kevin Dahlberg and in even more exciting news, Dee Simmons as underwriting chair.
Suzanne reminded everyone to purchase their raffle ticket to enter to win a Mercedes-Benz 2018 CLA250. Tickets are $100 each and a limited number will be sold. The winner will be drawn at the M1Ball. Winner does not have to be present to win. She thanked raffle partner Mercedes-Benz of Plano and leading sponsors D’Andra Simmons Lock and Jeremy Lock, Bank of America and Merrill Lynch for their support and everyone there for taking part in supporting Mercury One.
Slated for Saturday, November 17 at Mercury Studios Stage 19, the M1Ball benefits Mercury One, a humanitarian aid and education organization focused on restoring the human spirit. It will feature a VIP reception for underwriters at certain levels, cocktail reception, a savory three-course seated dinner, live and silent auctions of priceless experiences and one-of-a-kind treats, followed by entertainment everyone will enjoy.
Individual Tickets are $350 and a Patron Ticket is $750. Host Committee is $1,500 for two tickets. Sponsorship opportunities are $5,000-$100,000. Find out more at mercuryone.org/m1ball or contact Patrizia Pelfrey, ppelfrey@mercuryone.org or call 972-499-4747.
