The History of the Copper Ball

In 2002, a small group of physicians’ wives and community members envisioned an elegant fundraising event with dinner and dancing to benefit Verde Valley Medical Center.  They named the event the Copper Ball.  After all, the community was well-known for the copper mines in Jerome in the 19th and 20th Century.  It was only fitting to reclaim a little history in mining this new event.  

The first Copper Ball was held at the Cliff Castle Conference Center in Camp Verde, in November 2002.  The dining tables were decorated in copper and black, with shiny copper pennies scattered about.  Community participation by donation of items for a silent and live auction was hugely successful. Those pennies quickly became dollars.  While some skeptics said a black-tie event would never succeed in the Verde Valley, the Copper Ball was a sell-out……then, and every year since its beginning. 

While the launch of this event would not have been possible without the support and the continued support of the Yavapai-Apache Nation, a bittersweet decision was made to move the Copper Ball to a larger venue.  In 2009, the Copper Ball was held in Sedona where the elegance continued with an even bigger event under the stars at Tlaquepaque. 

In 2010, the Copper Ball supported Verde Valley Medical Center’s Fit Kids Arizona program and on June 5, it fulfilled its promise to be a glamorous night with the theme of Copper and Crystal. 

Today, the Copper Ball has grown to be one of the premier social events of the year, and the largest catered event in Sedona and the Verde Valley.  Community support continues --- from Camp Verde, Clarkdale, Cottonwood, Jerome and Sedona ---along with people from Phoenix and Flagstaff.