New Ventures, Inc. to hold virtual magic show Halloween fundraiser

Published 11:00 am Wednesday, October 14, 2020

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Local organization New Ventures, Inc. is holding a Halloween-themed virtual magic show fundraiser at 7 p.m. on Oct. 30.

Participating families will receive bags containing candy and items that kids will use to participate in the magic show, delivered to their door. Multiple bags can be requested for families that have multiple kids.

Tickets cost $50 per family and are available at www.newventuresinc.eventbrite.com.

The magician is “Brad Barton, Reality Thief,” who will be video calling in from California. The fundraiser, sponsored by Synovus and Ring’s Forklift and Battery Service, will support New Ventures, which provides work-based training to people with disabilities and other barriers to employment.

The virtual event also includes adult and child costume contests, with prizes delivered to the door of the winners.

“Halloween is very weird this year, a lot of people are unsure what the safest option is for their children,” New Ventures Marketing and Sales Specialist Anabeth Ivey said. “So this is still a really fun way to celebrate Halloween with your family and get dressed up in costume, and also support a great cause at the same time.”

Ivey said Barton has been doing virtual shows throughout the pandemic and has put on shows for companies looking to boost employee morale.

“His show is not completely catered to kids. It is very entertaining for adults too,” Ivey said.

Barton’s shows are interactive and involve participants appearing on the screen to perform the tricks, Ivey added.

The event was planned after New Ventures had to cancel a “huge” gala planned for October, Ivey said. The gala will hopefully take place sometime next year, but in the meantime, New Ventures came up with the magic show idea as a smaller, creative fundraiser.

“It’s also a way for us to reach a new audience and to increase awareness in the community about New Ventures,” Ivey said.

“Increase name recognition among a demographic in the community that probably doesn’t know very much about us — young families with kids.”