Neighborhood House Valentine's Dinner and Ball

SALT LAKE CITY—Talk of princes and princesses, fancy dress, and dancing are filling the classrooms of Neighborhood House’s children’s center as preschoolers and afterschool students discuss the Valentine’s Dinner and Ball happening on Tuesday, February 12th from 5-7pm at Neighborhood House (1050 W. 500 S. in Salt Lake City).
Children have been enthralled by the poster hanging in the foyer of the center with its heart-shaped decorations and princesses. “The girls are definitely excited by the prospect of attending a ball,” said Megan Shaw, a teacher in the afterschool program. “They are making plans about what to wear and are resurrecting Halloween costumes. The boys are a little apprehensive, but it is mainly because they are worried they may have to dance with a girl.”
Neighborhood House’s monthly Family Fun Nights are designed to foster a greater sense of camaraderie between parents and provide hard working parents with a chance to spend a stress free night out with their children.  The average client of Neighborhood House’s children’s day care is a single parent with three children making less than $20,000 a year.  Neighborhood House provides its preschool and out-of school programs on a sliding fee scale, serving low-income families on the west side of Salt Lake.  Finding time to be engaged with their children can be difficult with long work hours, homework, dinner and bedtime, but Neighborhood House makes it easy.  “As a single mother, I really enjoy how easy it is to pick up the kids in the evening and go right into a fun filled activity, where dinner is provided, and we can create fun memories together.  My daughter is so excited about the chance to dress up for the ‘Ball’ and be a princess for a day,” says Jennifer Nuttall.  
All of our Family Fun Nights are made possible by volunteers donating their time to help with the details of the event – from cooking the meal to decorating to cleaning up after the event.  February’s occasion will be staffed by volunteers from the University of Utah’s Fine Arts LEAP program and the Sigma Nu Fraternity.
“Family Fun Nights bring our day-to-day programs and the community together,” said Katherine Button, Neighborhood House’s Education and Training Manager. “Families really get a chance to mingle with each other and get to know who their kids play with and who their neighbors are. I’m personally very excited about this activity. The Valentine’s theme should make it extra special.”
Neighborhood House is a 501(c)3 charity that provides quality, affordable day care for children and adults, based on ability to pay.  For 119 years, the services of Neighborhood House have helped families address the care, education and social needs of loved ones.  Neighborhood House is the state’s oldest and largest nonprofit provider of care services; nearly 500 individuals are directly served by on an annual basis, by way of a sliding fee scale.