Fall Extravaganza returns to TowneBank

Published 10:18 pm Wednesday, October 19, 2016

More than 2,200 people are expected to attend this year’s Fall Extravaganza at TowneBank University, from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 29, according to U. Starr Oliver, senior executive vice president at TowneBank.

“The response from our members has been tremendous,” Oliver said.

The “Calypso Carnivàle” theme fits perfectly with the array of food, activities and games that will be available at 6009 Harbour View Blvd.

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More than 15 Hampton Roads restaurants will be catering seafood, chicken wings, desserts and other finger foods.

Additionally, internationally renowned party band Sound Connection will perform at the campus’ outdoor amphitheater. Inside the TowneBank University building, there will also be a Calypso band performing.

There will be a game lounge where attendees can watch the day’s football games and play a few rounds of foosball and cornhole.

Event tickets are available in advance at TowneBank. To date, more than 2,800 tickets have been sold. Tickets are expected to sell out sometime this week, Oliver said.

Upon entry, guests will be entered into a raffle for trips to downtown Charleston, S.C., the New River Gorge, Long Boat Key and other destinations.

A silent auction will also take place, and the bank is accepting canned good donations that will be donated to local food banks.

All net proceeds will go toward the TowneBank Foundation. Last year’s Fall Extravaganza raised nearly $357,000, according to Oliver. Through the years, the foundation has provided millions of dollars in charitable grants and donations to hundreds of non-profits in the area.

Earlier this year, Beth Prever, senior vice president of marketing and public relations at the Harbour View TowneBank location, was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS.

The diagnosis came unexpectedly as she gradually lost her ability to speak coherently.

However, prior to her diagnosis, Prever and TowneBank helped raise nearly $800,000 for ALS research through the JT Walk, one of the largest ALS fundraisers in the nation, over the last eight years.

This Sunday, she will be walking alongside her “brigade” of nearly 400 friends, family members and co-workers. To date, her team has raised more than $87,000.