The annual Charity Ball will not be held this year because of budgetary constraints, according to sources associated with the event.

Belen Ramirez (COL ’01), who works with the DC Schools program, confirmed that the event would not take place this year.

The event has traditionally been sponsored by several student-run service organizations in conjunction with the Volunteer and Public Service Center during the same weekend as the annual Diplomatic Ball.

In past years, proceeds from the event have gone mainly to the D.C. Reads and the D.C. Schools projects, which are sponsored by VPS.

Ramirez said that the event began as an alternative formal for students who did not get tickets to Dip Ball.

“It brought in a lot of money for DC Schools, and it was a good way for everyone to have a good time,” Ramirez said.

Ramirez said that the decision to not have the Charity Ball this year follows a general trend of a decline in student-run events.

“There has been a big push for organizations to switch to non-student-run fundraisers . and things are moving away from the `gala’ kind of events,” Ramirez said.

She said that the prohibitive costs associated with controlling underage drinking have led many organizations to move away from student-run events involving alcohol. Organizations must now employ bartenders and outside contractors to check student identifications to hold such fundraisers.

Ramirez said that representatives from VPS were “integral in putting together last year’s ball.”

Knights of Columbus Grand Knight Kevin Manz (MSB ’03) said that the Knights have “always been involved in the Ball,” but were not contacted this year. He said that the groups who have traditionally sponsored the event “have not made a coordinated effort this year.”

Representatives from several other organizations that helped to staff the event in the past had not heard that the Charity Ball would not be held this year.

In the absence of the event, Ramirez said that the D.C. Schools Project is supplementing their fundraising with other types of events. The D.C. Schools Project has had recent success with last month’s Date Auction at Rhino Bar.

“They donated everything. They just take half of the cover charge, and then … a lot of the bartenders are students . they even donate their tips.”

Yesterday, the GUSA Funding Board proposed the allocation of the proceeds of the new student activities fund to various student organizations, including $19,500 for VPS.