98th annual Cinderella Ball a magical evening for debutantes
It was a night Annalese Kimberly Bartolacci often dreamed about.
Wearing a beautiful gown and dancing with Prince Charming, just like in a fairy tale.
Her dream came true.
Bartolacci, a recent Fox Chapel Area High School graduate, was selected as Cinderella at the 98th annual Cinderella Ball on June 16 at the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh in Oakland. She and Prince Charming, Charles “Chase” Leonard Deaktor II, waltzed in front of 280 guests in the museum’s Hall of Sculpture.
A highlight of the evening is the entrance of Prince Charming, who is a well-kept secret. One of the most notable men to serve as Prince Charming was Henry John Heinz III, who later served Pennsylvania as a U.S. senator.
Deaktor drew Bartolacci’s name card, which was placed in a glass slipper perched upon a tufted pillow. A rising sophomore at Emory University in Atlanta, Deaktor is majoring in molecular biology and classics on the pre-health track and plans to pursue medical school.
He attended Shady Side Academy through eighth grade. He graduated from The Lawrenceville School in Princeton, N.J.
“This is such a unique experience,” Deaktor said. “The Cinderella Ball encapsulates a lot of good.”
“This is what a little girl dreams of … being a princess,” Bartolacci said. “You feel really feel special, and for this to be happening on Father’s Day makes it even more special.”
It was the second year the event was held on Father’s Day.
Formal entrance into society
Dressed in a white or off-white ball gown and coordinating long gloves, each of the eight debutantes paused to curtsy in front of the ballroom filled with family and friends, thereby making her formal entrance into society, on the arm of her father or presenter. They danced a waltz and the Grand March.
Brendan Reeves Kelley, a senior vice president with CNA Insurance, served as master of ceremonies.
“This almost doesn’t feel real,” said Elise Marie Deibler, a Baldwin High School graduate. “It is an unbelievable evening to share this with my dad on Father’s Day.”
Isla Pearl Abrams, a North Allegheny High School graduate, said there is no better gift to give her father than to share this time together.
“What a beautiful event this is,” Abrams said. “What a truly cool experience.”
Kennedy Kamille Barron’s father, Brandon Keith Barron, traveled from his home in Alabama for his daughter’s graduation from Pittsburgh Allderdice High School and to attend the ball.
“I did get a little teary-eyed,” he said after he danced with his daughter. “These moments we will remember for a lifetime.”
A tradition of volunteering
The Cinderella Ball is Pittsburgh’s oldest fundraiser and one of the longest-running debutante balls in the U.S. The debutantes, as part of their commitment, are required to do a minimum of 30 volunteer hours each with the beneficiary organization.
The young women spent more than 300 hours volunteering at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium in Highland Park. They volunteered for Breakfast with the Animals, the Asian Lantern Festival and ZooBoo, and created holiday wreaths that were auctioned to support the Sea Turtle Second Chance program, which rescues and rehabilitates sea turtles. They served as zoo ambassadors.
Ron Gruca, chief advancement officer for the zoo, attended the ball. This was the third consecutive year that the zoo was the beneficiary.
Each year, a scholarship is awarded to the debutante who contributed the most volunteer hours to the beneficiary.
Gabrielle Nicole Hodas, a Fox Chapel Area High School graduate, was recognized for volunteering more than 87 hours.
“I really enjoyed doing extra volunteer hours,” Hodas said. “This was such a great experience meeting all the other girls and getting to know them through volunteering.”
Barron said interacting with the children at the zoo was the most fun because she got to watch the youngsters make memories. The zoo at Halloween was Chelsea Elizabeth Hartman’s favorite time volunteering.
“This is the princess moment you think of,” said Hartman, a Shady Side Academy graduate. “And we got to experience that princess moment at the Cinderella Ball.”
Sponsored by the Cinderella Women’s Committee, debutantes accrued additional volunteer opportunities through the Leadership Forum for Young Women, which “provides experiences that help inspire and prepare them for bright futures through volunteerism and personal development opportunities. This includes service to our primary beneficiary and other nonprofits, networking events with guest speakers, and professional development training to help them build confidence as they enter college and the workplace,” according to the Cinderella Women’s Committee.
The Cinderella Ball is rich in history. Shady Side Academy graduate Elliott Muse Scheri is a third-generation debutante, with 20 family members who were debutantes or floor committee members, including her mother, Dr. Dorothy Vickrey Wilson, who was presented in 1984 and grandmother, Marilyn Vickrey Muse, who was presented in 1946.
“This evening is an important part of my family’s tradition,” said Scheri, who was carrying the beaded purse her mother also carried as a debutante.
“We have old programs from past Cinderella Balls, and I love that I am a part of all of this history and tradition,” she said.
Dinner and dancing
Co-chairing the event were Sara Deutsch Scaife, Margaret Dauer Marquette and Mary Dauer Colville. Scaife said the Cinderella Ball is such an integral part of Pittsburgh’s history, as are the Carnegie Museums.
“This is such a wonderful moment for the daughters and their fathers to be together,” Scaife said. “Especially before the young women go off to college. “
A cocktail hour was held on the museum’s Music Hall balcony. Dinner was served a little after 8 p.m. Jeff Donati of Pete Donati & Sons created blooms atop pedestals adorning each table. A flower wall was created by Day of Rentals.
Mark Balach, director of catering for Culinaire, the exclusive caterer for the museum, created an heirloom tomato salad and roasted chicken breast with asparagus and herbed risotto. A dessert display included fruit tarts, lemon triangles, macarons, vegan chocolate chip cookies and double fudge brownies.
The Rick Purcell Big Band provided the presentation music. The John Parker Band performed during dinner and welcomed everyone to the dance floor until late evening.
“The environment was so welcoming,” said Alexa Marie Zapata Ong, a Neshannock Senior High School graduate. “What a great gift for my family and friends. Ever since I was born, my dad and grandmother wanted this for me. It was a perfect night.”
Just like a fairy tale.
The Pittsburgh Zoo will be the 2025 beneficiary. The 99th Cinderella Ball will be held in the summer of 2025 at a place to be determined.
Details: cinderellaball.com
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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