This year’s theme is a combination masquerade and rave, RHA spokesperson Emily Tschirhart said.

“Each year, RHA holds a charity ball toward the end of spring semester,” she said. “It’s kind of just a celebration of all the hard work throughout the year.”

The ball will feature dancing, food, a photo booth, a disc jockey, a silent auction and a raffle for an iPad. Tschirhart said the entire event, including the venue, catering and entertainment, will cost the organization $2,500.

Lisa Stewart, communications coordinator with RHA, said items in the silent auction include gift certificates from businesses, a basketball signed by men’s head coach Tom Izzo and donated items from the bookstores.

Stewart said the Masquerave theme was picked to appeal to a broader student audience.

“It’s kind of like a masquerade ball and a rave put together,” she said. “So it can be in more semi-formal gowns and masks and you can decorate your own mask. Then it’s kind of like a rave, so it will have glow sticks and we have black lights and stuff like that.”

All proceeds from the event — including ticket sales and money raised from the silent auction and the iPad raffle — will go to benefit MSU Charity Water, a new charity organization at MSU.

“Charity: Water is a nonprofit organization bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations,” said Evan Sack, president of MSU Charity Water. “Their mission is to help the near one billion people who lack access to clean water.”

Sack said MSU Charity Water is excited to partner with RHA for the charity ball.

“For MSU Charity Water being brand new to this campus, it is an honor that the on-campus student government has decided to help support our cause,” he said.

Stewart said the goal is to raise between $1,000 and $1,500.

“(The charity balls) first started out as more of a leadership ball,” she said. “Last year, I kind of took it in a new direction and just made it more available for all undergraduates.”

History junior and RHA member Chris Rivard said he’s planning on attending because he thinks the charity ball is a great idea.

“I think it’s important for MSU students to show support for local charity organizations because I feel like it’s important for students to give back to the community,” he said.

The idea of a masquerade was something he found especially appealing, he said.

“I’m looking forward to wearing a mask,” he said. “I think it’s a fun idea. I haven’t done that since we used to have Mardi Gras parties in high school.”

For physiology freshman David Hurley, the ball is a chance to cut loose and have fun with his friends.

“It sounds like it would be fun,” he said. “It seems like a cool end of the year event thing that we wanted to go to. It looks like it’s going to be a fun time, and plus, it’s for charity, too, which is always good.”

The event provides a safe alternative for students to celebrate the end of the year, Tschirhart said.

“It’s a great way to let off some steam before finals week starts and have some bonding time with your friends,” she said. “It’s all for a good cause.”