Friends of Ballard Park At Annual Fundraiser

Les Ballard and Tom Cullen

The expansive grounds of Holly House on Berkeley Avenue were a stunning backdrop for the fundraiser that Carol Ballard and Les Ballard hosted recently for Friends of Ballard Park. A century tent decorated in a French garden motif was nestled into the gardens of the Ballards’ home, and guests tasted wine from Les Ballard’s private wine cellar and partook of hors d’oeuvres by McGrath Clambakes, Inc.

Party co-chairs Peggy Richmond and Colleen Quinn rallied great support for the event, with over one hundred fifty guests, who turned out to support the nonprofit organization which protects, maintains and promotes Newport’s only nature preserve, Ballard Park. The Park hosts free, family-oriented events and provides outdoor environmental education to local schools in within its grounds, which are located on Wickham Road. Guests included Diana Slocum and Jerry Slocum, Richard Bohan and Barbara Bohan, Paul Bohan and Susan Bohan, Joan Johnson, Jonathan Pardee and Bettie Pardee, Richard Grosvenor and Margot Grosvenor, and Maisie Grace.

Trudy Coxe, Jerry Slocum, Nancy Brickley and John Dalsheim

The silent auction contained desirable and unique items, such as necklaces from Kim Renk’s Sequin Jewelry line, a foursome to The Carnegie Abbey Club, tickets to the Newport Flower Show’s opening night cocktail party, a garden jacket from Karol Richardson, and vintage wine from Les Ballard’s cellar.