Ted J. Kleisner, Telfair Ball Committee Chair, announced today that Vince and Barbara Dooley will serve as Honorary Co-Chairs of the 36^th annual Telfair Ball, which will take place on February 27, 2016 at Telfair Museums.   

The Dooleys have worked for years on behalf of important nonprofits, including the Boy Scouts, the Salvation Army, Easter Seals, Honduras Outreach, Inc., and the fight against juvenile diabetes and multiple sclerosis. Mr. Dooley serves as Vice Chairman of the Board of Curators of the Georgia Historical Society. Since retiring from his posts as University of Georgia’s head football coach and athletic director, Mr. Dooley has continued his education by auditing UGA classes in art history, horticulture, history, and other subjects.

“Vince and Barbara Dooley are deeply committed to community service and are champions of institutions like Telfair Museums that connect people of all backgrounds,” said Kleisner. “Telfair is a dynamic organization that mirrors the Dooleys’ values and strives to make art accessible to everyone. Together, they are a winning team!”

“Telfair Museums is the oldest public art museum in the South and is the cornerstone of Georgia’s cultural foundation,” said Vince Dooley. “Barbara and I are very honored to co-chair the ball, and we are eager to support the museum as it reaches new heights in offering art education, activities, and world-class exhibitions to Georgia’s residents and visitors.”

In October, Telfair Museums will bring the art of Claude Monet to Savannah for the first time, as it exhibits Monet and American Impressionism. Thousands of area schoolchildren are scheduled to view the important exhibition, and Telfair will offer two Free Family Days during the run of the show, which closes in January 2016. Already in 2015, Telfair has mounted a large exhibit of Andy Warhol’s contemporary art, as well as an exhibition of Sir Winston Churchill’s paintings, which included the only canvas he painted during World War II.

“All proceeds from the Telfair Ball directly fund the museum’s educational programs and outreach, exhibitions, acquisitions and other related programs,” said Kleisner. “The ball is instrumental in allowing the three museum sites to remain open to the public.”

The 2016 Telfair Ball’s theme is Reflections, and will be the first in a series of celebrations of the Jepson Center for the Arts’ 10^th year. According to Kleisner, “The ball’s theme allows us to look forward with anticipation of things to come, while marking 10 years of Jepson Center achievements. When guests walk into the ball, they will be inspired anew by the promise and possibilities housed in the Jepson Center.”

Check in regularly to http://www.Telfair.org/Ball for news and information.