Members of The African American Club of The Villages spent their Saturday night celebrating the holidays during their Holiday Winter’s Snow Gala at Eisenhower Recreation.
Plans for the banquet dinner and dance have been in the works since since July. Arlene Patrom, of the Village of Largo, led the committee that organized the event, which included a catered dinner, a DJ and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus.
“The goal of the event was to socialize with all the members and their families while we enjoyed a holiday dinner,” Patrom said. “We have got nothing but positive accolades back. The music was perfect, the food was perfect and the event was perfect.”
The meal, catered by Bridgets Classic Catering in Leesburg, included turkey with dressing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and green beans, tossed salad and cheesecake topped with chocolate and raspberries.
Dressed in an all-white sequin jumpsuit with snowman earrings and a snowflake rhinestone bracelet, Toni Booker, of the Village of Winifred, danced and smiled for the majority of the evening.
“I thought it was all wonderful,” she said. “We got to see people who we haven’t seen in such a long time and everyone looked so good in their all-white outfits, though I also saw some black-and-white outfits or white and red. The food was also so good and the DJ had everyone dancing on the dance floor all night long.”
Curtis Agronick, founder of Party Springs Entertainment, got TAAC members running to the dance floor to do classic line dances while playing a mix of Christmas classics and popular songs such as the “Electric Boogie” and the South African song, “Jerusalema”
The excitement and fun continued through to the end of the event, with the club hosting a door prize giveaway and a 50/50 chance drawing featuring 10 prizes of $50 bills.
Patrom said the $435 collected from the $55 per-person ticket sales and the raffles will go toward the TAAC scholarship fund, a program that benefits students throughout the tri-county area.
In 2025, $77,000 was awarded to 19 graduating high school students and 10 college students renewed the scholarship awarded by TAAC in partnership with The Sophisticated Gents, a nonprofit dedicated to the intellectual, spiritual and emotional fellowship of its male members in The Villages and surrounding communities.
“Everything we have done, we do for the benefit of students, our members and the community,” Patrom said.
Dr. Carrie Dixon, president of the TAAC, said the event was a way for members to show camaraderie and support their community.
“When you are having a gala, you are having a more sophisticated party,” said the Village of DeLuna resident. “For a gala, you can put on your best of the best. Members of the club look forward to getting together for that fellowship.”
From educating about women’s history during its Women’s History Month event on March 26 to hosting health-focused events meant to get members moving with its Boots on the Ground: Line Dancing for Brain Health on Sept. 22, Dixon said the year has been a success in accomplishing the club’s goals.
“People looked at those events as being different, engaging and fun,” she said. “Members are so appreciative of the different activities we’ve done this year, along with the financial success of our activities. We’ve even heard great things from people outside the club. “
Staff writer Brea Jones can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5414, or brea.jones@thevillagesmedia.com.
