While Communities in Schools aims to create happy endings for students at risk of dropping out of school, the nonprofit will offer a fairy tale evening for all at its next fundraising event.

From 6 to 8 p.m. on April 9, CIS of Scotland County will put on a fairy tale ball for elementary-aged students at Laurinburg Presbyterian Church.

“We will be doing face painting, a magician, decorating like a castle, and Brenda Gilbert, a local professional storyteller, will come and tell fairy tales,” said Maria Bingham, executive director of Communities in Schools of Scotland County.

The event is designed for children in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, and children and adults alike are welcome to come in costume. Carver Middle School’s Communities in Schools students will help serve food at the event, though they may be mistaken for medeival princes and princesses.

Bingham said that this may become an annual event for Scotland County’s Communities in Schools, and the event aims to attract about 300 people this year.

“Another Communities in Schools down in Shalotte does something similar to this,” she said. “They’ve been doing it for four years and it’s grown every year.”

Children must be accompanied by an adult, and tickets are $10 per person. Sponsorship is also available at levels from $50 to $200.

For tickets and sponsorship, call Bingham at 277-4459, ext. 365. Tickets may also be purchased at the door.

Communities in Schools of Scotland County was formed in late 2011 and currently works at Carver Middle School and North Laurinburg Elementary School. Nationwide, CIS serves students in 26 states and the District of Columbia, with programs in 37 North Carolina school systems. Its mission is to support students targeted as dropout risks in order to help them stay in school.