For more than seven decades, the Charity Ball Association of San Antonio has been a pillar of hope for children across Bexar County, quietly and consistently transforming the philanthropic landscape of the city. Since its founding in 1954, the organization has granted more than $30 million to local children’s nonprofits, funding programs that provide healthcare, education, safety, and opportunity to those who need it most. In 2025 alone, 20 nonprofit agencies received over $1.3 million in funding through the Association’s annual efforts, an extraordinary testament to the power of community generosity and purpose, led by Nel Belt, the 2025 President of The Charity Ball Association.
The Association’s vision, “Funding hope, changing lives, shaping futures,” continues to resonate in tangible ways throughout San Antonio. From arts education initiatives to children’s mental health programs, its annual grants ensure that the next generation of San Antonians can thrive. Each year’s Chrysanthemum Ball serves not only as the organization’s hallmark event, but as a celebration of this ongoing legacy of service, blending glamour and generosity with a profound sense of civic impact.
On October 16, the Mays Family Center and Zachry Acequia Gardens were transformed into an ethereal Storybook Garden for the seventy-first Chrysanthemum Ball by Chairman of Decorations, Laura Dawson, welcoming donors, patrons, sponsors, and Ball Angels for an evening of celebration and purpose. The 2025 event marked a return to its beginnings, reviving the Ball’s roots as both a dazzling social occasion and a major fundraising engine for children’s causes throughout the region.
Guests were greeted by The Wall of Hope, a striking display featuring portraits of children served by this year’s grant recipient organizations. Nearby, the Cavender Cadillac, filled with chrysanthemums, invited guests to guess the number of blooms inside, a beloved tradition that honors the Cavender family’s remarkable fifty-six-year history of donating a car for the annual raffle.
The evening opened with a performance by the San Antonio Academy Boys Choir, followed by a flurry of bidding and anticipation as guests vied for the night’s Super Silent Auction and Live Auction prizes. Packages ranged from a private evening at The Alamo to an exclusive Neiman Marcus White Elephant Party, and luxury getaways to Canyon Ranch, Costa Rica, Cinnamon Shores, and the Ox Ranch.
Inside the Mays Family Center, the storybook setting unfolded in full, a moonlit garden with starlit clouds overhead, music curated by DJ Lucy Wrubel from Dallas, and dancing beneath the glow of chandeliers. The Halff Jewel Box, reimagined as a Patron Pavilion and Champagne Bar, paid homage to the Association’s founders and present-day patrons whose support continues to make the organization’s mission possible.
The night’s crescendo came with a performance by Katharine McPhee, whose Broadway, television, and concert acclaim was matched by her heartfelt connection to the evening’s purpose. Raffle prize winners and the victor of the inaugural Chrysanthemum Challenge were announced to cheers, but in truth, every attendee left a winner, having helped fuel a legacy of impact that reaches far beyond the ballroom.
The seventy-first Chrysanthemum Ball was more than an evening of elegance. It was a reflection of San Antonio at its best, a city where generosity blooms and where stories of transformation begin in the hearts of those who give.
THE VOICE:
Eleanora Morrison
Eleanora (Ellie) Morrison is a fifth-generation San Antonian and the Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Voice of San Antonio, a platform dedicated to amplifying visionary voices in the city. As Editor-in-Chief, she leads both editorial and creative direction, shaping the platform’s voice, visual identity, and storytelling approach. With a background in arts, culture, and media, Ellie has always had a passion for telling stories that reflect the diverse, vibrant spirit of San Antonio. Her work strives to elevate local voices, showcasing the city’s rich cultural heritage and supporting its future growth. In addition to her editorial role, Ellie is a multi-disciplinary creative leading projects that shape spaces, conversations, and community in San Antonio and beyond. Connect with her on social media @eleanoramorrison.