McKinney , TX , February 28, 2007 - More than 40 influential and caring women converged at the home of the 2007 Gala Chair, Cheryl Massey of McKinney , to announce the date of the 2007 Chrysalis Ball benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Collin County. The date of the gala event is set for November 3, 2007 at the elegant Grand Ballroom of the Embassy Suites Hotel in Frisco.

The Chrysalis Ball is the largest annual fundraiser benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Collin County. For the past three years, generous underwriters, individual and corporate sponsors have contributed wholeheartedly to ensure proceeds from the luxurious event have nearly doubled on an annual basis. In 2006, the gala committee surpassed its fundraising goal by collecting $290,000 for children’s programs. Today, more than 3,800 at-risk and disadvantaged youth throughout Collin County are benefiting from those generous contributions through continued delivery of guidance-oriented programs in a positive, safe environment both after-school and during the summer.

Gala committee members Rebecca Brewer, attorney with Abernathy, Roeder Boyd and Joplin P.C. and wife of Collin County Judge Greg Brewer; Kim Vitz of Keller Williams Realty; Laurie Ricchi, wife of Ray Ricchi, The Ballfields at Craig Ranch owner Ray Ricchi; and Sherry Hendricks enjoy visiting with each other as they make plans for the 2007 Chrysalis Ball set for November 3, 2007 held at the Embassy Suites in Frisco.

The evening gathering of friends and supporters, which included high-spirited conversation, relaxed mingling, delicious hors d' oeuvres and drinks, marked a celebratory start to months of preparation for the November 3 event.

Cheryl Massey, 2007 gala chair, expressed her commitment to the BGCCC while thanking the large group of women volunteers helping with this year’s event.

"Already I feel your enthusiasm for this magnificent party we are planning to benefit the kids of Collin County," Massey said. We appreciate the fact that you are willing to be involved. I know that you will feel, as I have come to realize, that this endeavor is one of the most important things you will do in your life. The children of our community are truly the path to the future for all of us."

Christina Alford, CEO of the Boys & Girls of Collin County , reinforced the importance of the Chrysalis Ball at the launch party.

BGCCC Chief Executive Officer, Christina Alford and 2007 Gala Chair, Cheryl Massey, kick off planning efforts for the popular, annual 2007 Chrysalis Ball benefiting the Boys and Girls Clubs of Collin County. The BGCCC offers after-school programs and summer camps with emphasis on education, lifestyle coaching, tutoring, computer training, music, art, dance, recreation and healthy meals and snacks to disadvantaged children across Collin County.

"The Boys & Girls Clubs of Collin County is not funded by federal dollars or large government grants," Alford said. "We depend on the generosity of our local donors in Collin County to assist us with changing lives for the better. It truly does just take one person to positively impact a child who needs it most in our community and I am personally so grateful for all of the women who have come together on the gala committee to make that happen."

A talented and diverse group of women who live and work in the cities of Frisco, McKinney, Plano, Prosper, Allen, Anna, and Murphy as well as Aubrey and Dallas have joined forces to achieve the 2007 fundraising objective and plan an event to remember. The women (in alphabetical order) are Cathy Barker, Julie Battaglia, Katrina Bawcom, Rosanne Best, Rebecca Brewer, Tracy Cash, Carryl Cherry, Blynda Christian, Trish Dishner, Stacy Driskell, Susan Duggan, Nancy Flora, Kristina Garcia, Sundey Gardner, Daniella Giglio, Christina Goettsch, Cindy Greenberg, Pam Harkins, Sherry Hendricks, Kathy Horner, Stefanie Hoyle, Marilyn Iness, Diane Jensen, Tonya Knott, Tracy LaRosiliere, Gwendolyn Lau, Dale Long, Jeanne Lowry, Cathy Ramsey, Jennifer Reinhard, Cathy Riccardi, Laurie Ricchi, Tracy Self, Jacquie Sicotte, Sandy Simpson, Tracy Staples, Jan Tankersley, KK Taylor, Jorie Thompson, Sheacy Thompson, Angie Toles, Kim Vitz, Kelly Whiteside, Kim Williams, Shelley Williams, Kim Wright and Sue Young.

Gala committee members Sheacy Thompson, assistant to State Representative Ken Paxton's and Cheryl Massey, 2007 Gala Chair and BGCCC Board of Directors member, along many other volunteers work together to make the 2007 Chrysalis Ball a success.

For more information about the Boys & Girls of Collin County or sponsorship opportunities for the 2007 Chrysalis Ball, please call Christina Alford at 214-544-8924 ext. 102 or e-mail her at calford@bgccc.org.