The Norton Museum of Art’s gala was one of the season’s most colorful.
High Roller To stimulate interest from donors, having a “wow” factor at a gala is essential, says Catherine Tolton, Jupiter Medical Center’s development and special projects manager. “Going to the same ballroom week after week becomes boring. The charities have to think: What are we going to do to wow people?” she says. To amaze attendees at its own 2015 gala, JMC transported guests to 1950s Las Vegas. The walls of the PGA National ballroom were decorated with glittering gold-textured fabric and hand-painted Las Vegas motel marquees. A martini ice sculpture luge was the focal point during the cocktail reception. Guests enjoyed chocolate poker chips, helped themselves to retro sweets from a candy bar, and received gift bags with themed goodies like custom dice and a deck of cards. “We wanted to ooze the essence of Las Vegas in a very tasteful way,” Tolton says. Throughout the night, patrons enjoyed interactive elements like slot machines, card tables, and vignettes. An Elvis impersonator hip-jived with leggy showgirls to the Rat Pack’s music, and a magician performed sleight-of-hand magic during the cocktail reception. These live acts enhanced the decor and carried the theme into one cohesive evening, Tolton says. At the end of the night, a charity’s goal is to raise funds for its mission, and the success of that comes from creating an entertaining, unforgettable evening, year after year. “We just put pressure on ourselves to continue to enhance our event and see what more we can do for our guests,” Tolton says.
Attendees of the Jupiter Medical Center’s ball took a realistic trip to Vegas, complete with Elvis.
Work of Art
In the spirit of interacting with art, the Norton Museum of Art aimed to create a playful evening for its 2015 gala. The first step was to give it a retro 1960s aesthetic. “A lot of our decor is meant to have a large visual impact and look good to the visitor,” says Hilary Jordan, the Norton’s design director. “But when they come closer, they have some level of interaction.” For instance, a wall of white and silver sequins used as a backdrop for photo ops was customizable, as guests could change the pattern by running their hands along the wall. Likewise, the bubble chairs and Barcelona beds in the after-party served as chic spaces for patrons to lounge and mingle. In the dining area, striking balloon chandeliers gradually changed color thanks to an LED light-sequencing platform. During the afterparty, bold-colored lighting was added to the Norton’s black and white theater to transform the space into a happening dance floor. “It’s always our goal to stand out in the social calendar,” Jordan says. “We really strive to host a memorable evening and make sure [guests are] having a lot of fun.” It may seem like nonprofits are competing with each other to organize the most enticing event, but the party-planning environment is actually more supportive than competitive, says Jaimie Hart, the Norton’s development officer for special events. “You don’t feel like you’re in it alone,” she says, adding that a lot of ideas are shared. “There are hundreds of other organizations, [but] we all stand out on our own just based on our individual merits. It’s fun to see what people are coming up with and still be able to have something that’s true to us.”
PALM BEACH CHARITY REGISTER
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