The daughters and dads dance will have to wait.

The 95th annual Cinderella Ball has been moved because of the pandemic.

Traditionally held in January at the historic Omni William Penn Hotel in Downtown Pittsburgh, the committee decided to host it on June 26 at the Allegheny Country Club in Sewickley, said Christina Rath, publicity chair and member of the Cinderella Ball women’s committee.

The Cinderella Ball, Pittsburgh society’s debutante ball, is the oldest continual charity gala in Pittsburgh and second-oldest debutante ball in the United States.

At the event, the young women are presented to society on the arms of their fathers in age-old traditional cotillion style. The event usually draws more than 300 guests.

Described as a night that fairy tales are made of — from the young women dressed in pristine white gowns and elbow-length gloves to the glittering pumpkin and illuminated carriage — it’s the evening where the debutantes waltz with their dads.

Courtesy of Caroline Kelley The Cinderella Ball, Pittsburgh society’s debutante ball, is the oldest charity event in Pittsburgh and the second-longest running debutante ball in America. The 2021 event has been moved from January to June 26 and will be held at the Allegheny Country Club in Sewickley. This photo was taken at an earlier ball.  

As is customary, Cinderella is selected by Prince Charming, whose name is a well-kept secret until he chooses Cinderella from a beautifully decorated pumpkin. They also dance.

Rath said she hadn’t been able to get anything confirmed by the hotel, which has been closed since March.

The new venue can accommodate a move to the outdoors if necessary depending on the covid orders for gatherings decided by the governor.

“We were unsure about being able to properly social distance at the hotel, and what the covid-19 protocols would be come January,” Rath said. “An indoor event in January wasn’t practical. The country club has windows we can open and an outdoor space so we could even do a hybrid event there.”

The Cinderella Ball supports local, civic and charitable organizations. It awards a scholarship to the debutante who has contributed the most volunteer hours. This year’s beneficiary is the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.

Because of the pandemic, over 4,000 cultural trust events have been cancelled.

“The Debs have been busy engaging in our digital selections throughout their time volunteering with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust,” said Ashley Rieser, director of volunteer services for Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. “Upon beginning their volunteer journey, they received an ‘Art Connects Us’ tote bag. The Debs have been using and sharing pictures of themselves with their bags on their social networks to help spread the word about our fundraising campaigns.”

The girls are encouraged to continue to watch and share the trust’s digital selections with their networks via social media, email, text, old-school phone calls and in person connections.

Each debutante is required to complete a minimum of 30 volunteer hours.

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A post shared by Cinderella (@thecinderellaball)

How the girls are compiling the volunteer time is being done virtually.

Their most recent project was making blankets for residents at The Seasons of Saxonburg Personal Care Home in Saxonburg. They learned how to do the craft via a virtual meeting.

They also filled bags with clothes and toiletries for homeless teenagers and wrote notes to contributors and supporters of the cultural trust as well as work on fundraising for the trust through social media.

“My favorite was making blankets for residents in a nursing home, said debutante Catharine King Mellon Cathey of Ligonier. “We cut felt sheets and tied them together.”

Courtesy of Christina Rath A resident at The Seasons of Saxonburg Personal Care Home in Saxonburg looks comfortable under one of the blankets made by Cinderella Ball debutantes.  

She said she was familiar with some of the ways to accomplish things virtually because she is the head of community service projects at her high school, St. Paul’s School in Concord, N.H.

“This year has been tough, but we have learned to be a little more creative with our volunteering,” said Cathey, known as Kingsleigh. “I love being able to help anyone who is struggling during this time.”

She is a third-generation debutante. Her mother, Catharine Mellon Cathey, and her father’s mother, Susan Findlay Cathey, were both presented.

Cathey said that her family instilled in her the importance of giving back at an early age. She said she’s met the other debutantes virtually and they share similar values and interests.

She said she has been looking forward to this night for many years. “It will be a special evening no matter where it is,” she said. “It is a very important tradition in my family. I am looking forward to dancing with my dad. That will be definitely be a moment to remember.”

Even if she has to wait six months to waltz with him on the dance floor.

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