Gala Benefits Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center
An evening featuring music, food and a live auction will mark the eighth annual Fund Raiser and Benefit Gala to benefit Fairmont State University's Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center. {C}The Gala, planned for 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, in Colebank Hall will also include the presentation of the 2008 B.B. Maurer West Virginia Folklife Scholar Award and the 2008 Traditions Salute Award.
General admission is $20 per person and free for children ages 12 and younger. Those who would like to attend also have the option of paying $30 per person, which would include reserved table seating in front of the stage plus favors. Parking is available in the parking garage. To purchase tickets and reserve seating, call the Fairmont State Foundation, Inc., at (304) 367-4009. For more information about the Folklife Center, call Dr. Judy P. Byers, Director, at (304) 367-4286 or Noel W. Tenney, Cultural Specialist, at (304) 367-4403.
Proceeds will benefit the adaptive reuse of an historic campus building that will become the home of the Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center, as well as programming for the center. Construction began this fall to renovate the historic property on the west side of campus formerly known as The Colonial Apartments (circa 1941) and The Kennedy Barn (circa 1903) on the original site of the Michael Kennedy Dairy Farm.
"This year's gala has the theme, 'History in Action,' and our focus is on museums, historical societies and cultural festivals that emphasize and salute our living history, our personal history," Byers said. "We are saluting North Central West Virginia in a very unique way by highlighting our museum studies. Folklore and folklife are how we preserve our culture. At Fairmont State University and Pierpont Community & Technical College, we offer programs in museum studies and folklore studies."
The event will being at 6 p.m. with a silent auction, raffle and exhibits, a buffet of savory and sweet hors d' oeuvres, folk art demonstrations and a vintage book sale. The awards presentation is planned for 6:30 to 7 p.m. The silent auction will end at 7:15 p.m. New this year is a live auction that is scheduled for 7:15 to 7:45 p.m.
Phyllis Baxter, historic preservation/museum specialist, will receive the 2008 B.B. Maurer WV Folklife Scholar Award, and Pricketts Fort Memorial Foundation will receive the 2008 Tradition Salute Award. Melissa May serves as Executive Director of the Foundation.
 
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| Â Phyllis Baxter | Â Melissa May |
The B.B. Maurer West Virginia Folklife Scholar Award annually honors a person or persons who have contributed to the preservation and perpetuation of Appalachian cultural heritage. The award is named for Dr. B.B. Maurer (1920-2003), considered the "Father of Cultural Studies in West Virginia."
The Traditions Salute Award is given to a person or group that has demonstrated a passion and commitment towards the enhancement of West Virginia folk culture through education and public resources. The recipient will always be recognized in Traditions: West Virginia Folklore Journal, and the actual honor will be bestowed at a public awards ceremony.
The Folklore-Folklife Programs, a division of the Department of Language and Literature in the College of Liberal Arts of FSU and the School of Human Services of Pierpont Community & Technical College, are dedicated to the identification, preservation and perpetuation of our region's rich cultural heritage through academic studies, educational programs, festivals, performances and publications.
To become part of the Barn Raising campaign for the Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center at Fairmont State, contact the Fairmont State Foundation, Inc. at (304) 367-4009 or toll-free at (866) 372-2586.
