Laura and Hurley Raynor to serve as Honorary Chairs

October 25, 2011 | Raleigh, NC -- Woody Dicus, president of the Artsplosure Board of Directors, announced this week that Laura and Hurley Raynor will serve as the Honorary Chairs of First Night Raleigh 2012.  The 21st annual New Year’s Eve arts festival will take place on Saturday, December 31, 2011, in a 20+ block area of downtown Raleigh.

 

In making the announcement, Dicus said the Raynors have a long history of support and involvement with some of the state’s leading nonprofit causes.  She expressed the Board’s appreciation that they have chosen to lend their leadership to Artsplosure’s First Night Raleigh.

 

Laura Norris Raynor, who recently completed a two-year term as Chair of the City of Raleigh Arts Commission, is currently President of the Duke Raleigh Hospital Guild.  In addition to serving on numerous nonprofit boards and committees in recent years, she has been especially involved with the Carolina Ballet over the past decade, including serving as President of the National Society for Carolina Ballet, as the Ballet’s Director of External Affairs, and as a member of its Board of Directors.  In recognition of stellar record of community service, Laura will be inducted into the YWCA Academy of Women on November 9, 2011.

 

Hurley Patrick Raynor is Director of Distributor Relations with GE-OEC Medical Systems.  He has coached baseball for 40 years in Raleigh, with both the City of Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department and the Salvation Army.  In 2008, he was honored by the Salvation Army for his service to children with a Community Fund established in his name and the fields at the Community Center named in his honor.  Hurley has been actively involved with Raleigh Ducks Unlimited in various leadership capacities, and he is currently serving on Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research Board,

 

First Night Raleigh begins at 2:00 PM with the Children’s Celebration at the North Carolina Museums of History and Natural Sciences and on the Bicentennial Plaza.  The People’s Procession and Early Countdown will kick off the evening entertainment.  Performances and activities will take place in over two-dozen venues throughout downtown Raleigh.  First Night Raleigh concludes with the Countdown to Midnight, the descent of the Raleigh Acorn, and fireworks. 

 

A complete list of artists and performers will be announced in the coming weeks.  Admission buttons will go on sale December 1 for $9 and will provide access to all First Night activities.  For more information, visit www.firstnightraleigh.com.