History Main / CharityBall

* There was an episode of ''Series/{{Castle}}'' where the main cast went to a charity ball in order to track down the murderer of the week.

The dance or gala is organized by a wealthy executive or {{socialite}}, and it is typically held at a large, upscale venue, such as a luxury hotel or convention center. While the ostensible purpose is charity, and while that may motivate many participants, there are a number of other benefits, including tax write-offs, social networking, and being seen at an elite event. The tickets may cost thousands of dollars, which ensures that everyone present is wealthy. The event may include cocktails, a formal dinner, and speeches.

A society dance or gala held to raise funds for charity. Often an important part of the social season, as wealthy folk feel better about their wasteful extravagance if some of the money is going to the deserving impoverished or suffering people. If it's less formal, it may be combined with a BachelorAuction, and often there will be a "theme" such as "Casino Night" (less dancing and more gambling, with all the house profits going to the charity).

In romance plotlines, it's a chance for the heroine to see some [[NiceToTheWaiter important personality traits]] of her prospective love interests. The Charity Ball is the natural habitat for the wealthy {{socialite}}.

A society dance held to raise funds for charity. Often an important part of the social season, as wealthy folk feel better about their wasteful extravagance if some of the money is going to the deserving impoverished or suffering people. If it's less formal, it may be combined with a BachelorAuction, and often there will be a "theme" such as "Casino Night" (less dancing and more gambling, with all the house profits going to the charity).

A very common twist in fiction is for criminals to attempt to steal the proceeds; this was almost the entire use for charity balls in {{Pulp Magazine}}s and [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks Golden Age]] ComicBooks. In aid of this, the Charity Ball may also be a MasqueradeBall to make it easier for the crooks to infiltrate.

In romance plotlines, it's a chance for the heroine to see some [[NiceToTheWaiter important personality traits]] of her prospective love interests.

* ''Film/ShallowGrave'': Cameron is mocked at one of these.
* The Casino Night variation appeared in Creator/TimBurton's ''Film/Batman1989''.
* ''Film/BatmanAndRobin'' had one too.
* ''Film/TheMask'' with Jim Carrey, also had Casino Night.

* In ''Literature/{{Relativity}}'' there's a charity ''carnival.'' As usual for these kinds of stories, a bad guy shows up.

* ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'': Frequently, since Bruce Wayne is a wealthy playboy, and the series started at the tail end of the Great Depression. He's sometimes protrayed as almost the only one there who actually cares about the charity.

* ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'':

* Repeatedly in the ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' comic books, since Bruce Wayne is a wealthy playboy, and the series started at the tail end of the Great Depression.

* ''ComicBook/RedRobin'': Tim and Steph team up to protect Dr. Leslie Thompkins at a charity ball where they rightly expect some ninjas to try and assassinate to good doctor.

A subtrope of DancesAndBalls. Compare FundraiserCarnival. ''[[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant Not]]'' a [[Administrivia/EverythingsWorseWithSnowclones snowclone]] of IdiotBall.

!!Examples in fiction:

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[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/charity_ball.jpg]]

A subtrope of DancesAndBalls. Compare FundraiserCarnival. ''[[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant Not]]'' a [[Administratia/EverythingsWorseWithSnowclones snowclone]] of IdiotBall.

A subtrope of DancesAndBalls. Compare FundraiserCarnival. ''[[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant Not]]'' a [[EverythingsWorseWithSnowclones snowclone]] of IdiotBall.

* ''{{Series/GoldenGirls}}'' also had a few. Viewers could count on shenanigans ensuing every time.

A subtrope of DancesAndBalls. Compare FundraiserCarnival.

* Creator/MarkTwain once wrote a spoof newspaper article about the proceeds of a charity ball being diverted from wounded Union soldiers to a pro-miscegenation society. It was very poorly received.

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'': ComicBook/ThePhantomStranger takes Franchise/{{Batman}} back in time to witness Bruce Wayne's parents attending one.

* There was one of these on ''Series/TheMentalist'' to raise funds for the CBI.
* The Casino Night variation appeared in Creator/TimBurton's ''Film/Batman1989''.

* ''Film/GoneWithTheWind'' has Scarlett O'Hara scandalously go to one (despite being a recent widow) raising money for the Southern cause. There is where she reconnects with Rhett Butler.

* ''{{WesternAnimation/Futurama}}'': "The Mutants Are Revolting" features a charity ball for a mutant scholarship program.

* Creator/DaveBarry mentioned these once, along the lines of "Charity Ball To Fight Gout" sounding better in headlines than "Rich People Amuse Themselves".
* ''ComicBook/RedRobin'': Tim and Steph team up to protect Dr. Leslie Thompkins at a charity ball where they rightly expect some ninjas to try and assassinate to good doctor.
* In ''Literature/{{Relativity}}'' there's a charity ''carnival.'' As usual for these kinds of stories, a bad guy shows up.

* In ''ComicBook/TheLegendOfWonderWoman2016'': Diana, ComicBook/SteveTrevor and Lawrence Stone attend a charity ball in newly liberated Paris that the Holliday Girls are preforming at as one of the musical acts.

* ''Series/GeneralHospital'': The titular hospital holds an annual "Nurses' Ball" as an in-universe fundraiser for HIV and AIDS research -- which is inevitably used to also showcase [[TheCastShowoffs the cast's other talents]]. It was first held on the show from 1994 through 2001, but was revived in 2013 as part of a larger series of events marking the show's 50th anniversary. It also began to gain real-life sponsors in-universe, and Creator/{{ABC}} also partnered with an actual AIDS research charity.

* ''Series/GeneralHospital'' has a perennial Nurses' Ball, which has picked up Real Life sponsors in later years.

* The Casino Night variation appeared in Creator/TimBurton's ''Film/{{Batman}}''.