WE ARE EXCITED TO BE BACK IN-PERSON FOR:
Vera Aqua Vera Vita's 4th Annual Fundraiser "An Evening at a Speakeasy"
And YOU are invited... as long as you aren't a snitch!
Plus, thanks to what we learned at last year’s event, the main program for the evening will have a virtual component as we seek to livestream it and make it a hybrid of in-person & virtual.
Come celebrate with us and help us raise $30,000 to bring the Gift of True Water True Life to 600 People in Peru!
This event will have the two most important parts of a Speakeasy: the booze and the smooth jazz of Dave Washburn Three Quarters Fast Jazz Band. Get your own bottle of booze by participating in the wine & liquor pull or if that is not your style then cast a bid in our online auction, or buy a few raffle tickets to be eligible for our grand prize(s).
Of course, the best part is that 100% of the proceeds raised from our evening will go toward providing our brothers and sisters around the world with access to clean water & improved sanitation! Right now we are focused on serving people in the Piura Region of Peru.
BECOME A SPONSOR
Support our mission and become part of the movement to bring True Water True Life to communities in need! Get your company's logo on our site that links back to your own web page and you could develop new business. We can track how often your logo is viewed and clicked to see just how many people are accessing your site.
CHARLESTON LEVEL
FOXTROT LEVEL
SWING LEVEL
PRE-EVENT HIGHLIGHTS:
April 14th - May 14th
MAIN PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:
5:30 - 6:30 PM CDT | Cocktail Hour
6:30 - 8:30 PM CDT | Main Program + Dinner
8:30 - 10:00 PM CDT | Live Jazz Music + Swing Dancing
EVENT ATTIRE
We encourage y'all to enjoy the Speakeasy theme by dressing up in your best Roaring Twenties / Speakeasy Outfit. See some ideas here.
SPEAKERS/PRESENTERS
BIOS
Joe Christensen, Keynote Speaker
Joe graduated from the University of Dallas with a Master's degree in English. He founded St. Francis Montessori in 2009 with his wife Polly, and serves on the board of directors as President. Joe started Aqueducts Consulting in 2012, a company that brings business processes to life for enterprise businesses. He lives in Irving, TX, where he and Polly and children host the St Francis Montessori community for their annual Oktoberfest. Joe is a lifelong baseball player and fan, playing for Florida Southern College in Lakeland, FL 1997-99.
Kurt Klement, Testimonial Witness
Kurt Klement is the Executive Director of Divine Renovation USA since early 2021. Previously for the past 25 years Kurt served in various roles at St. Ann in parish ministry including youth, young adult and overall parish evangelization and discipleship at St. Ann in Coppell, TX. Kurt and his wife, Jenny, have 5 kids and live in Coppell.
Patrick Gordon, Master of Ceremonies
Patrick Gordon grew up in a small town in southwest Colorado, so naturally, many of his favorite pastimes involve hiking, skiing, camping, or spending time with friends at microbreweries. After high school, Patrick attended Ave Maria University near Naples, Florida, majoring in philosophy and minoring in theology. There, he grew in his love for the Catholic Faith and experienced the joy of pursuing wisdom. After college, he returned to his hometown in Colorado, teaching middle school for two years and serving as the principal for five years at the Pope John Paul II Academy. With the present intention of returning to teach in the classroom, he is now in his third year of graduate studies at the University of Dallas pursuing a PhD in Philosophy. He also works part-time for the Theology of the Body Evangelization Team (TOBET), assisting with content creation.
ENTERTAINERS
Emmeline Miles, Melodious Cocktail Hour Tunes
Darryl Smyers of the Dallas Observer raves that Emmeline’s “straight-ahead take on folk/rock may actually be the best thing” on a bill of seasoned, signed artists. The Ghost of Blind Lemon blog says she “not only possesses a beautiful voice, but writes songs that are simply beautiful and heartfelt.” Fellow musicians Avoiding Disaster refer to her as “some sort of sonic angel,” and songwriter Jenni Mansfield Peal declares that her “images and passages of the songs, whether gently reflected or emphatically pronounced, create a sampler of genuine soul observations.”
The pint-sized singer/songwriter from Dallas, TX, may represent a musical amalgamation of big words, unconventional chords, and undeniably catchy melodies, but Emmeline’s pedigree is anything but that of a musician. Born to a tax attorney and a CPA, the former mathlete spent her days in honors classes and her nights in dedicated study groups. Yet despite her penchant for proofs and polygons, Emmeline’s affinity for music manifested at an early age. Learn More
Giancarlo Bernini, The Magician
Magician Giancarlo Bernini is an international performer who has performed for multiple television and radio appearances under his belt. He has read minds over Sirius XM and even made a deck of cards disappear at the MicroSoft Theater in Los Angeles. At Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, he broke the laws of physics while surrounded by 25,000 people.
“Unlike most entertainment, I use my illusions not offer an escape from reality, but to transform your perspective of the everyday into something magical.” – Magician Giancarlo Bernini
Join Giancarlo Bernini during the 3rd Annual Vera Aqua Vera Vita’s “An Evening At A Speakeasy” fundraising event on May 20 for his illusions and magic. And don’t be surprised on what you might see! Want to see more? Learn More
Dave Washburn Jazz Band, The Jazzy Ensemble
If you love music, particularly jazz and swing, you will love the Dave Washburn Jazz Band. And their music is perfect for our VIRTUAL “An Evening At A Speakeasy” on May 20. The band played at the 2019 Vera Aqua Vera Vita “Speakeasy” and was a great hit and had our guests swing dancing and swaying to the jazz music.
The Dave Washburn Jazz Band is a traditional New Orleans-style group playing hot jazz, swing, and Dixieland, and Big Band tunes and so much more. You might also hear some “Frank Sinatra-style “croon tunes,” an Elvis or Chuck Berry song or maybe even a polka or two, especially around Oktoberfest season.
The band plays many venues in the Metroplex including weddings, corporate & private events, swing dances, parades, State Fair of Texas, and even some jazz funerals.
But the band also provides music for smaller, quieter settings such as a special dinner, a cocktail hour or a brunch. Wherever you go the trio or quartet looks to create a classy, jazzy ambience for the occasion from “soft & sweet” to NOLA “Bourbon Street.” Learn more
DONATE AN ITEM
ARE YOU UNABLE TO ATTEND BUT WOULD STILL LOVE TO MAKE A PHYSICAL CONTRIBUTION?
Then, why not consider donating a bottle of wine, spirits, or simply making a monetary donation (cash, check, card, or gift card) to be used in the purchase of bottles for our wine/liquour pull? Or would you like to get some branding/marketing recognition for your organization, then consider donating an item to be included in our Silent Auction!