a Roaring Success
Photo by Blue Sky’s Studio
ttendees, sponsors, underwriters and donors made the 17th Annual St. Mary’s Gala a huge success. The 420 guests at the Casablanca-themed event were greeted by belly dancers and directed to a Moroccan backdrop where they posed for photos provided by Blue Sky’s Studio. The evening continued with a cocktail reception and live entertainment, silent and live auctions, dinner and dancing. Event sponsors were invited to a VIP reception sponsored by First Republic Bank. As an alternative to dancing the night away, guests were invited to a Cigar Lounge hosted by Cigar Oasis. The evening was a tremendous success thanks to the direction of the Gala Committee Chairs, Emily Crume and Patti Frazier. Under their leadership, the Gala far exceeded its fundraising goals, which benefit various programs at St. Mary’s. In addition to the silent and live auctions, the St. Mary’s community raised $103,000 specifically earmarked for growing and enhancing the St. Mary’s fine and performing arts programs. Attendees had a chance to take part in two opportunity drawings. The lucky winner of the first drawing received an all inclusive trip to Barcelona, Spain for two, a value over $13,000. The second drawing, provided by Lugano Diamonds, gave guests an opportunity to purchase jewelry boxes some of which contained Lugano jewels and gift cards. Box buyers were also entered to win the grand prize, a Lugano Diamond Line necklace containing 144 round brilliant collection SI diamonds with a total of 3.68 carats set in white gold – a value of more than $6,800. The magical evening was filled with Five members of the Gala Committee friendship and community, resulting in a (top left to right): Emily Crume net total of $240,000, which will benefit (Gala Co-Chair), Tami Wingate, all of the children and educational Claudia Kechejian, Susan Masson programs at St. Mary’s. and Sandy Palenske
Thank you and congratulations to everyone who made this year’s Annual Fund the most successful in St. Mary’s history. St. Mary’s community – parents, faculty, trustees, grandparents, alumni parents and alumni – donated nearly $347,000 to the Annual Fund in 2011– 2012. That is a 36 percent increase over the prior year and the largest St. Mary’s Annual Fund campaign in history.
School Year
Total Raised
Parent Participation
2011–2012
$347,000
67%
2010– 2011
$251,000
63%
2009–2010
$227,000
57%
2008– 2009
$121,000
40%
2007–2008
$72,000
11%
Compared to 2010 –2011 data:
• • • •
Gifts from parents increased from 265 to 317 Total number of gifts increased from 347 to 427 $92,000 increase in total contributions Significant increase in matching gift donations from corporations
• Noteworthy increases in gifts from grandparents and alumni parents
• First-ever gift from an alumni student St. Mary’s Annual Fund allows us to recruit and retain exceptional faculty; increase teaching aides in the classrooms; and maintain a low studentteacher ratio. It also enables us to continue to enhance our academic offerings in science and foreign languages, to invest in technology and to expand our programs in athletics and the arts.
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If you have questions, comments or would like to learn more about the Annual Fund, please contact Christine Downie, Director of Development at 949.448.9027 x324 or Christine.Downie@smaa.org. Donations to St. Mary’s Annual Fund can be made at www.smaa.org/give.