Neil Forever, a 14-musical Neil Diamond tribute ensemble, will be the feature act at The Blair County Arts Foundation’s “A Night for the Mishler” on March 22. Courtesy photo

The Blair County Arts Foundation’s annual dinner fundraiser A Night for the Mishler is set for March 22 and features entertainment by Neil Forever, a 14-member musical ensemble performing the hits of Neil Diamond.

Tickets for the dinner/show package remain available, said Kate Shaffer, executive director of BCAF. During the catered dinner, the Ward Family will be honored for their nearly 60 years of philanthropy to the Mishler with the Angel of the Arts Award. The theme for the evening is “Ice Illusions.”

“Every year it’s always different because Janey (Hite) puts a special spin on everything. It’s going to be spectacular with a drop-dead impact, but I don’t want to give up the details,” Shaffer said.

The event, anticipated to be attended by about 200, helps fund the historic theater, which is the performance home to Altoona Community Theatre and the Altoona Symphony.

The Ward family’s support dates back to when G. Bill Ward provided the funds to purchase a chandelier that was dedicated on March 17, 1971, at a symphony concert. Their support and involvement hasn’t wavered, she said, through to the fourth generation.

“Every year we look to honor someone who had a significant impact on the arts,” Shaffer explained. “The Wards have been a significant part of the theater’s restoration history and continue to be patrons who have kept the theater alive and going for all these generations.”

The show by Neil Forever also has a few remaining tickets available.

“It’s going to be quite the night,” Shaffer said.

Angel of the Arts Award recipients:

2007 — Tom Trexler

2008 — Barry Halbritter

2009 — Ellen Lambert Paterson

2010 — Jean Dillen Geist

2011 — Diane Osgood

2012 — Ann Benzel

2013 — Sue Kuhn

2014 — Serena and Joe Stevens

2015 — Nancy and Steve Sheetz

2016 — Mickey and Neil Port

2017 — Micheal Farrow

2018 — Karen Volpe and Jonathan O’Harrow

2019 — Steve Helsel (posthumously)

2020 — John Rita

2021 — Pause for COVID

2022 — Dean McKnight

2023 — Steve Sloan and The Wolf Kuhn Foundation

2024 — Ed Henderson

2025 — The Ward Family

If you go

WHAT: The Blair County Arts Foundation’s

“A Night for the Mishler”

WHEN: March 22 — Dinner at 5:30 p.m.,

concert at 8 p.m.

WHERE: The Mishler Theatre, 1208 12th Ave., Altoona

COST: Tickets for the concert are $45 (plus handling fee)

and can be purchased by calling 814-944-9434 between

10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.mishlertheatre.org.

A package that includes dinner, preferred concert seating

and a post-concert dessert reception is available for $150 per person and may be purchased through the box office.