Date: Friday, May 9, 2025
Time: 7 pm to 10 pm (Host Committee Reception Begins at 6 pm)
Location: 250 Thompson’s Point Road, Portland, Maine
Theme: Embrace Emotions
Step into a world of imagination and play at CMTM’s first IMAGINATION BALL!
Guests will journey through three vibrant floors filled with interactive exhibits, playful activities, delicious food and drinks, and hundreds of enticing auction packages.
Whether you attend in person or participate online, your involvement will help to foster creativity, learning, and play for all children.
With a diverse range of items and experiences available, this is your chance to give back while treating yourself and your loved ones.
Proceeds from the Imagination Ball help to open the door to all children and families through CMTM's Community Fund.
CURRENT INTIATIVES MADE POSSIBLE BY THE COMMUNITY FUND INCLUDE:
Year-Long Scholarship Memberships for families in need
Free or discounted admission for the Museum & Maddy's Theatre performances
Educational Outreach programming to schools and community organizations
Free Community Partner Nights for local community service organizations
Free Play Your Way sessions for families of children with sensory processing challenges
Your support makes all the difference and will bring hands-on learning to children near and far and from all walks of life.
Thank you for being part of our community!
Imagination Ball is presented by Maine Community Bank
MUSIC AND ENTERTAINTMENT
KAFARI - MUSIC
Kafari (he/him) is the alias of Cincinnati, OH-born, Portland, ME-based pianist and rhythm bones-wielding beatmaker Ahmad Muhammad. Kafari’s music synthesizes his love of ambient piano music, instrumental hip-hop and acoustic percussion, taking inspiration from Detroit, Michigan jazz harpist Dorothy Ashby, Detroit beatmaker J Dilla, and the Carolina Chocolate Drops, who in a 2014 performance sparked Kafari's interest in traditional music and the Irish rhythm bones - a percussion instrument that was popularized in America in the 1800's through Blackface Minstrelsy. Kafari often distributes and teaches the rhythm bones at his performances, inviting his audiences to workshop basic rhythmic techniques and to share in the joy and magic of bones playing.
NATHAN LAPOINTE - MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT
Nathan Lapointe is a Theatre Program Associate at CMTM. Nathan, aka Unique Unknown, found his creative roots in Van Buren, Maine. Starting out playing drums to classic rock music, his love of wordplay inevitably guided him towards theater and hip-hop, which he has embraced through his time at college and beyond. He and Kyler Henningsen co-founded Family Banned Records with the aim of bringing awareness to the healing power of art and culture. He has also created a hip-hop curriculum with Windham and Raymond, ME students. He currently uses his music and theater skills to collaborate with the children and families at CMTM. Nathan has performed in multiple mainstage productions in Maddy’s Theatre. As a Theatre Program Associate, Nathan is a key individual in Pop Up Play development and performance.
PALAVER STRINGS - MUSIC
Palaver Strings is a Grammy-nominated, musician-led string ensemble and nonprofit organization based in Portland, ME. Our mission is to strengthen and inspire the community through music. In our musician-led model, Palaver’s musicians share artistic and administrative leadership guided by a passion for engaging new audiences, addressing social justice issues, and amplifying underrepresented voices. Equally committed to performance and education, Palaver presents a full season of live concerts.
PRESENTERS
Julie Butcher Pezzino - Co-Presenter
John Bottero - Auctioneer
Chris Costa - Co-Presenter
HOST COMMITTEE
Thank you to our growing list of CMTM community members for their generous support
Rachael & Justin Alfond
Brent Barnes & Scott Stevens
Michael Bourque & Kendra Connelly
Newell & Cameron Brookfield
Emily Bruce & David Plumb
Pat & Patti Butler
Michael & Sadie Butler
Chris & Mary Copeland
Chris & Jennie Coyne
Steve & Kristen DeCastro
Chelsea & Noah DeLorme
Chris & Kolleen Dougherty
Hazel & Bob Garofoli
Katie & Drew Geant
Jeff & Julia Glidden
Harwood Family
Gabrielle & Kevin Herbig
Heather & Mark Hochstein
Lisa Houck & Alan Ringel
Harry Hollenberg & Ann Budner
Rachel & Mark Jablonowski
Gretchen Johnson
Sadie & Chandler Jones
Celine Kuhn
Tom & Amy Landry
Tabitha Lamontagne
Annie Leahy & Mike Carey
Karen McDonald
Laura & Brian McHugh
Melissa & Edward Mckersie
Sara Mills-Knapp & James Kurdek
Josh & Marci Murphy
Julie & Michael Ouellette
Rose Parsons
Cameron & Jordan Peden
Jack & Becky Piper
Izzy Piper
Matthew & Darcy Poor
Phil & Ula Polsky
Katie Porter & John Gillis
Kristina Powell & Joe Marro
Harry & Anne Pringle
Gail Ringel & Jay Wylie
Keith & Lauren Rosenberg
Servidio Family
Natalie Solotof
Sara Smith & Michael Szulc
Rose Splint
Lucas & Yemaya St. Clair
Kristin & Warren Valdmanis
Desi Van Til & Sean Mewshaw
Abby & Barry Wark
Stuart & Karen Watson
Jodi Williams & Acacia Lamb
Tiffanie & John Winters
Nicole Witherbee & Greg Payne
SPONSORSHIP AND DONATION OPPORTUNITIES
Thank you for considering sponsoring or contributing to our 2025 benefit auction, the Imagination Ball. All proceeds from this fundraiser go directly to our Community fund, supporting our access and inclusion initiatives.
Sponsorship Deadline: March 31, 2025
Donation Deadline: April 18, 2025. All Auction Items Due to CMTM by April 25, 2025.
