Emcees For 19th Annual Mayor's Charity Ball Announced

WFSB Channel 3's Dennis House and Kara Sundlun will co-host the 19th annual West Hartford Mayor's Charity Ball, which will be held May 12, 2018 at West Hartford Town Hall. The gala benefits two local charities, Playhouse on Park and The Town That Cares. Proceeds from last year's event covered important operating expenses for Playhouse youth programming, and helped The Town That Cares meet a significant uptick in requests for the Food Pantry.

"We are honored and excited to take part in such a great event in such a great town that is a huge part of our lives. Mayor Cantor is so much fun and we look forward to helping her raise money for a such a wonderful cause," remarked House.

Named one of the "12 Most Influential People" by Hartford Magazine, House has been a mainstay on WFSB since 1992, where he has served as Eyewitness News anchor and Face the State moderator. He got his start in television news at WPRI-TV in Providence, RI, and then moved on to become the assignment manager at WMUR-TV in Manchester, NH. From there, he worked as weekend anchor in Rockford, IL, and a weekend sports anchor and news reporter in Grand Rapids, MI. A native New Englander and Emmy award-winning journalist, House co-anchors Eyewitness News at 5 pm, 6 and 11, and interviews politicians and newsmakers on Face the State, the critically acclaimed Sunday morning political show. House is married to Eyewitness News Anchor Sundlun; they are proud parents of Helena and Julian.

Sundlun is a two-time Emmy-award winning journalist. She started her television journalism career as a youth reporter for WPRI-TV in Providence, RI. She has also worked in Grand Rapids, MI, and interned at the White House and CNN's Washington Bureau. She joined Channel 3 in 2000 and has covered many of the biggest stories of our time. Sundlun is the weekday the co-host of Better Connecticut with Scot Haney, and also anchors Eyewitness News at Noon. Sundlun is also the author of Finding Dad: From Love Child to Daughter.

Professional auctioneer Gary Katz will host the auction portion of the evening. After a decade of building a successful customer-driven business, Katz brought his resourcefulness, management skills, and experience as an entrepreneur to Capital Recovery Group in 1998. As Vice President of CRG, Katz now oversees the preparation and execution of all its auctions, dispositions, liquidations and appraisals, continually refining processes and best practices employed by a team of experts. Additionally, he manages day-to-day operations that include sales, finance and customer service. With over 20 years in the industrial and commercial auction industry, he has been integral in building meaningful CRG relationships with partners, dealers, banks and industry professionals throughout America as well as in Canada, Israel, and Europe. Committed to community service, Katz proudly donates his time serving as Auctioneer for numerous charitable foundations.

"The Mayor's Charity Ball is a special and memorable event that supports two of West Hartford's most impactful charities," said Mayor Cantor. "West Hartford's tradition of giving has kept these charities effective and thriving, and reflects the community's caring for each other, making West Hartford a wonderful place to live, work, and play for everyone. The Town that Cares responds to our basic belief that no one should go hungry. Playhouse on Park, a professional theater, adds a tremendous vitality to our community. These nonprofits add character to our town, and the Mayor's Charity Ball is able to support them with funds because of the community's generosity and engagement that is a part of our fabric of life."

The event has evolved over the years, but has always maintained its commitment to helping the community. Former Mayor Rob Bouvier established the inaugural Mayor's Charity Ball in 2000. The Ball continued to thrive during Jonathan Harris's administration. Under Scott Slifka, the event was moved to the lawn of West Hartford Town Hall in 2011. This year, Mayor Cantor is pleased to preside over the Ball for her second year. Tickets are now on sale, and the entire community is invited to attend.

To purchase tickets, or for more information on the Mayor's Charity Ball and the organizations it supports, visit www.themayorscharityball.org.

Photo courtesy Meredith Atkinson

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