Black & White Ball: Announcing the Kick-Off of Marrakech's 7th Annual Gala & Auction

Gala Proceeds To Support the Marrakech Heritage Fund and Other Unfunded Marrakech Programs

Woodbridge, CT - Marrakech Inc., a non-profit organization that provides a wide range of educational, employment and housing programs and services to children and adults throughout Connecticut, will host its 7th Annual Fall Benefit Gala & Auction at the Woodbridge Country Club in Woodbridge, Connecticut at 6:00 pm on Saturday, November 17, 2007.

This year's Gala is a black-tie optional event and will feature a cocktail reception, dinner dance and live and silent auctions. Proceeds from this event will support the Marrakech Heritage Fund, as well as other unfunded Marrakech programs. Sponsorships and contributions assist program participants that Marrakech serves with such vital needs as heating and other utility costs during the cold winter months, as well as providing accessible, safe, and affordable housing, food, clothing, recreational activities, and in some cases, funeral arrangements.

"The annual Gala & Auction consistently remains an extremely important fund-raising event with far reaching results, as it helps to raise awareness for the life-changing programs and services that Marrakech provides to the 1,600 children and adults we serve," stated Francis McCarthy, Executive Director, Marrakech, Inc.

The Gala will feature a live and silent auction with a host of items to be up for bid. This year's auction items include a 7-night Holland America cruise this fall for two to the Caribbean or Mexico, four Yankees box tickets, signed sports memorabilia, a weekend stay in a Manhattan apartment, a catered dinner with wine for eight by Emily's Catering, wines from around the world and a pilot script of The Sopranos autographed by the cast. Additionally, a raffle for a variety of items including a mountain bike, donated by Quantum Benefits, will be held during the Gala. Over 200 guests, including title sponsors Citizens Bank Foundation and United Healthcare/ Oxford, are expected to attend.

This year's Honorary Gala Co-Chairs are Woodbridge residents Irwin and Louise Epstein, owners of Alert Security Systems, Inc., based in New Haven. "We are delighted and honored to be chairing this year's Gala," said Irwin Epstein. "As local residents and business owners we see first-hand the tremendous impact that Marrakech has on the consumers they serve. Louise and I strongly believe in the mission of Marrakech, and it is our pleasure to encourage business owners to donate exciting auction items for the Gala. We are proud to support Marrakech and we look forward to being part of the Gala."

About the Gala:

The Marrakech 7th Annual Gala will be held on Saturday, November 17, 2007 at the Woodbridge Country Club located at 50 Woodfield Road, Woodbridge. Tickets for the Gala are $175.00 per person. The evening will kick-off at 6:00 pm with a silent auction and cocktail reception. The jazz band, Lot 49, will be the musical guest. Dinner will begin at 8:00 pm followed by after dinner dancing to the music of The Bernadettes.

To purchase Gala tickets or for further information, please contact Lindsay Foster at 203-389-2970, ext. 1060.

For media passes and interviews, please contact Debbie Koke at 914-536-7557 or Debbie@vanguardstrategies.com.

About Marrakech:

Marrakech, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that provides a wide range of human services to children & adults throughout Connecticut. Founded in 1971, Marrakech established the first halfway house in Connecticut for women with mental retardation. They have continued developing programs and services which are located throughout the State of Connecticut encompassing support to people with a wide range of disabilities, families with complex needs, youth who are at risk, and people without disabilities who are economically disadvantaged.