Photo: Family Success Center Executive Director Emma Hazelwood-Clapp presides over the murder mystery dinner party at Rainbow City Community Center on June 3, 2023. Submitted photo.
By Kaitlin Hoskins, News Editor
Disguise, murder and charity are not words one would typically associate together.
However, one local organization found a way to bring intrigue to realm of fundraising.
This past Saturday, Family Success Center invited guests to dress up in their best whimsical costumes, assume a character and work together to solve a murder mystery, all in the name of raising money for the center’s food pantry and children’s summer camp.
The murder mystery dinner party took place at the Rainbow City Community Center Saturday at 5 p.m. Guests arrived dressed in character and ready to mingle with fellow residents of the fictional town of Wraith’s Cove.
The fictional town was plagued by an elusive serial killer, nicknamed the Body Snatcher, and webs of lies and secrets.
Guests worked together and competed against each other to solve the mystery of a double homicide at the party and the identity of the Body Snatcher.
The guest who solved the mystery first was awarded a prize and awards were also given to two individuals the staff picked as “best dressed.”
Family Success Center’s Executive Director, Emma Hazelwood-Clapp thanked the attendees for their participation and support of what the center is doing in the community.
Family Success Center, which was named the Chamber’s 2022 Non-Profit of the Year, serves Etowah County with numerous programs, such as financial stability classes, parenting classes, summer camp, free haircuts, mental health counseling, child abuse prevention, healthy relationship coaching, domestic violence prevention and maternity care.
The center already has the next murder mystery dinner party planned for August 19.
The August murder mystery theme is Mullets, Mayhem and Murder. It will be hosted at Taivas Farm in Glencoe. There will be games, food and a murder mystery. Tickets are on sale now for $50.
Tickets will benefit the center’s Inclusive Needs Program, which sends special needs children to Camp ASCCA and purchases life enhancing medical equipment not covered by insurance.
For more information, call 256-547-6888.