The Kent Center, a community mental health center in Warwick, will celebrate its 40th anniversary by hosting its annual gala benefit with a 1940s theme: “A Night in Casablanca.” The event, which takes place on November 12 at the Aldrich Mansion situated on Narragansett Bay, will be filled with nuances from both the movie Casablanca and the African city located in Central Western Morocco.

Sarah Channing, the Kent Center’s Director of Development and Event Chair, said the board members and guests had fun dressing up in 1920s style for last year’s Great Gatsby theme. This year, they’ve picked the 1940s Casablanca theme to go along with the 40th anniversary. Channing said she wanted to represent both the 1942 film and Moroccan city at the event. She visited the nation when she worked for a human rights organization in Washington, D.C. and became quite familiar with the location. She found the Moroccan people shared a lot of the values held at the Kent Center. Her travels through Rabat, Marrakech, Essaouira, Dakhla, and Casablanca provided the same supportive, non-judgemental environment that mental health facilities like the Kent Center must provide, she said.

“Due to its geographic location, Morocco is a diverse blend of many different African and European cultures. Every person I met during my visits was open, approachable, and interested in discovering what we shared in common,” she said. “It’s a beautiful philosophy, finding common ground – one that’s at the very heart of The Kent Center’s guiding principles.”

Aldrich Mansion will be decorated with Moroccan lanterns. The mansion’s master chef will be serving up Moroccan delicacies like couscous, kabobs, and other dishes inspired by the slow roast technique of cooking meat and vegetables in clay tagines. The menu will include vegetarian options and be delicately flavored with Moroccan spices. Guests will also be treated to movie-inspired cocktails with names like the “Casablanca French 75” or a “Bogart Mint Sour.”

To further absorb guests into the theme, 1940s music will be performed by Jan Marie & the Mean Reds, a five-piece ensemble comprised of highly skilled long-time jazz/blues musicians, and led by powerhouse Jan Marie on lead vocals. “Last year’s guests enjoyed the band so much, they vowed to return if we featured them again,” said Channing. “Jan Marie’s rich, sultry voice reverberates off the mansion walls and echoes throughout its halls. This year, the band will be playing songs from the 1940s, including Casablanca’s theme song, ‘As Time Goes By’.”

A silent auction will be featured at the event, including original paintings by The Kent Center’s Clubhouse program, Hillsgrove House. Led by Kate Paquin, the Creative Occupational Group designs unique pieces in various mediums including alcohol inks, acrylics, and abstract watercolors. Guests can also bid on restaurant gift certificates, tickets to the theater, symphony, and ballet, and baskets featuring items donated by local businesses. Last year’s silent auction raised over $4,000 for The Kent Center.

All event proceeds support The Kent Center’s programs in behavioral health. Special initiatives this year include raising funds to purchase defibrillators for each of The Kent Center’s facilities and funding a computer lab for Hillsgrove House, a work-ordered day program for people struggling with the effects of serious mental illness.

The event will take place on November 12 from 7-10 p.m. Tickets are $100 per person and include dining, live music, dancing, a silent auction, and a cash bar. To learn about the event, see photos from last year’s Some Enchanted Evening, or to order tickets, visit www.SomeEnchantedEvening.org. Event Chair Sarah Channing can be reached at 738-1338 x335 or schanning@thekentcenter.org.

Founded in 1976, The Kent Center is a private, tax-exempt comprehensive behavioral healthcare organization located in Warwick. The Kent Center’s mission is to improve the quality of life of men, women, children, and families facing behavioral health challenges. Through a wide range of mental health services, substance abuse treatment, and trauma-informed programs, its dedicated professionals provide a holistic approach to care that treats the person, not just their illness. Above all, The Kent Center is dedicated to effective, compassionate service in an atmosphere of dignity and respect.