Ring the Silver BEL - Witherspoon Institute Celebrates 5 Years

Jan. 26, 2011 - PRLog -- The Witherspoon Institute proudly presents the Witherspoon Silver Spring Children's Ball, June 26, 2011.   There, rainbows of multicultural communities celebrate the children of the world as we commemorate our five year 'silver anniversary'.  This year our motto is more appropriate than ever: "At the Witherspoon Institute every child is served with a Silver Spoon!"

April 2, 2011 the 'SILVER BEL' Course begins with Ballroom dance, Etiquette and Leadership forums for children from 7– 18 years old at the Yawkey Roxbury Boys and Girls Club, 115 Warren Street, Boston, MA. The 12 week classes culminate into a three-day Youth Conference June 24-26 featuring a Red Carpet Movie Premiere, Formal Tea Party, Kids Disco, and Witherspoon's signature Children's Ball.  Please note partners are required throughout course and Ball presentation.  *The Witherspoon Institute recommends you bring a partner.  This is part of our community outreach where children learn to spread lessons learned in their circle of friends.  Manners are contagious.  We want to infect the world!

Etiquette Class includes: interpersonal skills, social introductions, table manners, posture, dinner conversation, public address, creating personal presence, selecting flattering formal attire, grooming, and written social correspondence.  Ballroom Dance features: the Tango, the Waltz and the Charleston.  Weekly Leadership Forum features: the Witherspoon SLIP Course (Strategic Leadership Investment Plan) - personal development, leadership skill building, goal setting, time management, essay writing, daily journal, and guest motivational speakers.  

U.S. Senator John Kerry recently endorsed Witherspoon's American Alabaster Quilt for Haiti, a national collection of handmade messages of hope for Haiti to benefit Earthquake orphans. In 5 years the quilt goal is to be 100 yards - a football feild long. Join our quilting bee today!  Visit us on line to get a square message.  We send and recieve it by mail, so it's easy to help!  Over 100,000 children from the tragedy are without parents and are in need of assistance.  Children helping children is at the heart of “Raise Your Hand for Haiti” led by the children of WIN who began this effort as a classroom project last year.  Simon Mall helped the Witherspoon Institute bring the project into a public forum in malls across Massachusetts and has now grown into a national project in 10 states.  MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ, D.C., Chicago, Philadelphia, Miami and Atlanta.

Program Highlight:   WIN children will hone leadership skills assisting in the facilitation of the International Haitian American Summit at the United Nations on May 18, 2011.  The event is hosted by the Permanent Mission of Haiti and presented by the Witherspoon Institue and its National Community Network Partners.   The Summit is an international prayer breakfast to encourage the island nation to rise above the ashes of the Earthquake.

"We are excited about this year's program season", says founder Alda Witherspoon.  “It’s our 5th anniversary!" We are raising the bar with our Haitian relief efforts and focusing on our children's public presentation skills as we host a formal breakfast at the United Nations.  What a wonderful time to celebrate a 'silver anniversary'.  Anniversary gifts are always fun.  Traditional gifts are wood and modern gifts are silverware.  We are always looking for mentors and formal dinnerware to help teach the children table setting, dinning etiquette and leadership.  Please look through your calendar for spare time and your china closets to donate well-kept cutlery, dinner sets and linens.  Ring the silver dinner bell for our BEL program (Ballroom, Etiquette and Leadership).  We need your support!"  Please visit www.witherspooninstitute.net for more information and how to donate.            

The Witherspoon Institute was founded in 2006 by Alda Marshall Witherspoon in the name of her Grandfather, Albert L. Witherspoon who in the 1920's owned the Witherspoon Hotel, Dry cleaner, Gas Station and Newspaper.  Building upon her professional background in community development through the arts, Ms. Witherspoon relayed the torch from her family tree to teach children to believe in their abilities, embrace their heritage and respect the cultures of others.  As an etiquette expert, Ms. Witherspoon has lent advice to such notable media corporations as the Boston Herald and Clear Channel Radio. She is an accomplished lecturer, poet, playwright, performing artist and producer having performed and presented with noted political figures President Bill Clinton, Senator John Kerry; civil rights torch bearer Martin Luther King III as well as a host of performing artists including legends Pattie Labelle and Peabo Bryson.

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The Witherspoon Institute (WIN), a Boston Based non profit organization teaches BEL- Ballroom dance, Etiquette and Leadership to youth ages 7-18 years old.

In 2011 WIN celebrates a 'Silver Anniversary'. Please donate mentorship time and silver goods to help us commemorate our fifth year. Thanks for your support!

www.witherspooninstitute.net . 617-535-9704