The Mattawoman Creek Art Center would like to thank the Greater Waldorf Jaycees Foundation for its continued support of the art center and its programs by hosting our annual fundraiser Oct. 10.

This year’s event was “Murder at the Manor House” with a “Downton Abbey” theme. Guests that evening enjoyed a delicious meal generously provided by the Jaycees and were entertained by the many colorful suspects as they shared their clues to the murder mystery.

The annual fundraiser enables the MCAC to raise funds for programming and capital improvements to the art center in Smallwood State Park. MCAC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit offering visual arts to the residents of Southern Maryland.

Each year the center hosts nine shows and presents works created by local, regional and national artists. In addition, the center offers classes, lectures and seasonal and holiday teas.

The center provides the residents of Charles County with opportunities to practice and appreciate the visual arts.

MCAC board of directors would like to thank our sponsors for this year’s event:

Platinum level — Greater Waldorf Jaycees Foundation, our hosts.

Gold level — Fastsigns of Waldorf for the photo backdrop and digital display, Whodunnit for Hire LLC and Wendy Olenik’s murder-mystery troupe, and University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center.

Silver level — Dave Dixon of State Farm.

MCAC would like to thank the following businesses and individuals for purchasing an ad in our program or providing a door prize: Community Bank of the Chesapeake, Bullock’s Piano Salon East, Animal Clinic of La Plata, Sky Dance Images, Duplicate Bridge Players, Peter Murphy, Ron and Brenda Bush, Blue Dog Saloon, Charlie’s Nails Salon & Spa, Port Tobacco Players, Signature Salon and Day Spa, Atlantic Office Supply, La Plata Physical Therapy and Wellness Center, Mr. Tire and Ledo Pizza.

This year’s event was a great success, and everyone had a fabulous time. Our success required some of our local residents to play the parts of the colorful and lively suspects and the victim in the murder mystery.

Our board members would like to thank Hammad Matin, Woody Schlotterbeck, Mike Callahan, Rich Edgar, Josh Joson, Charlie Bennett, Amie Pflaum, Kenneth Waters, Kathy York, Debi Krahling, Robert White, Sherry Santana and Kirsten Ellis.

These businesses, our advertisers and sponsors enabled the success of our event, and we thank you.

Next year’s event is scheduled for Oct. 2, and we hope you will join us for another murder-mystery event.

Janet A. Pflaum, Marbury

The writer is the Mattawoman Creek Art Center’s board of directors’ fundraising chairwoman.