Cascades Verdae to Host Guild of the Greenville Symphony’s 2010 Black and White Ball

Greenville, S.C. - October 20, 2009 - The Cascades Verdae announced today that it will host the Guild of the Greenville Symphony's Black and White Ball on March 13^th, 2010 for a second consecutive year. The Cascades Verdae will open the entire 52,000 square-foot Clubhouse for the event, which will include live and silent auctions, a three-course dinner and dancing. Organizers are planning for 300 guests and hoping to raise significant dollars for the Greenville Symphony Orchestra.

Ken Bolt, CEO of Banyan Senior Living, the parent company of The Cascades Verdae, is pleased to partner with the Guild of the Greenville Symphony for the event. "I am extremely appreciative of the level of talent that our Symphony consistently offers and I am glad we can help the Guild with its financial support of the GSO," Bolt said. "Last year's event proved to be such a successful partnership that we enthusiastically agreed to sponsor the Ball again this second year. Our Clubhouse, along with the dining and ball rooms, makes a perfect setting for the Black and White Ball."

Peggy Hill, President of the Guild of the Greenville Symphony, has high expectations for the Ball. "The Cascades is a beautiful community filled with residents and staff who love the Greenville Symphony Orchestra for the cultural impact it makes on our community," Hill said. "We are thrilled that The Cascades has agreed to sponsor The Black and White Ball and are thankful for our shared love for art, music and culture."

Hill says the funds The Black and White Ball raises are vital to the symphony's success. "All of the proceeds from the Ball will go to the GSO," Hill explained. "Just last year, we celebrated our fiftieth anniversary, an achievement that makes me proud not only as a music lover, but as a Greenville resident. For more than 50 years, the Guild has had the privilege of supporting the Greenville Symphony through direct volunteerism, financial contributions and music appreciation. Since 1958, our organization has given more than $2.5 million to the Greenville Symphony."

The Guild's stated mission is to promote, support and assist the Greenville Symphony Orchestra through direct volunteerism and fundraising. Ken Johnson, Executive Director of the Greenville Symphony Orchestra, says that the Guild is essential to the success of the GSO. "We eagerly anticipate the success of this year's Black and White Ball at The Cascades. The Guild does a tremendous job with their gala every year," Johnson said. "This past year, the Guild gave more than $100,000 to the GSO for our operating budget. They also helped sponsor a guest artist, contributed to the cello chair endowment, provided volunteers for the Michelin Children's Concerts and served nearly 100 dinners to musicians between rehearsals, among many other services."

Pat McDonald is Auction Committee Chair for this year's Ball and immediate past president of the Guild. "Six years ago, the Guild decided to name its annual signature event the Black and White Ball," McDonald explained. "Most people wear black and white and we generally carry out the black and white theme in the floral and table decorations as well. If you did not make it to last year's ball, and even if you did, this is an evening that should not be missed."

Tickets for the Black and White Ball are $150 per person or $1500 per table of ten. For more information or to purchase tickets, please call the office of the Guild of the Greenville Symphony at 864-370-0965 or email info@GuildGSO.org.

ABOUT THE CASCADES VERDAE AND BANYAN SENIOR LIVING:

The Cascades Verdae is South Carolina's largest continuing care retirement community. It is situated on 40-acres in the Verdae Development and will hold 450 residents when at capacity. The Cascades Verdae is located at 10 Fountainview Terrace off of Verdae Boulevard in Greenville, South Carolina. The Cascades' website is www.thecascadesverdae.com.  The Cascades Verdae developer, Banyan Senior Living, was established in 1987 to specialize in providing housing and other services to senior adults. Banyan Senior Living provides development, marketing, management and support services to senior communities throughout the southeast. Among the additional communities that Banyan Senior Living provides services for are: Covenant Place in Sumter, SC; Heritage Place in Fayetteville, NC;  Laurel Crest in Columbia, SC; and Methodist Manor of the Pee Dee in Florence, SC. Since the company's inception, Banyan has provided services for more than 1,800 Independent Living Units, 750 Assisted Living Units, 175 Special Care Units and 150 Patio Homes.