From the Nominator

"The 2021 Un-Gala was designed to celebrate the perseverance and creativity of every member of our school community throughout the pandemic. The previous year had been a time of intense reimagining and out-of-the-box problem solving. The Un-Gala focused on the grit and resilience of our community and school through this lens.   

Our theme, "Outside the Box," was an homage to the challenging year we had experienced, especially our students. For 33 years, this event has been dedicated to enlisting financial support that allows us to seize new academic opportunities, enhance teaching and learning through innovation, and provide additional programs, despite the difficulties of the pandemic. We now had to reimagine the event entirely from an in-person evening of dinner, dancing, live performances, and auction bidding to an entirely remote virtual event that still raised critical funds. There were many unknowns.  

This completely unique event tied together tactile gala experiences with a live virtual component. The week-long event consisted of a silent auction that highlighted "big experiences" with new items being released daily, to-go party boxes with a variety of surprises (at different price points to be inclusive and a special VIP box for major donors), and pop-up driveway parties. It all culminated in a successful live-streamed event that raised critical funds. 

The Un-Gala was anchored by a multitude of sponsors whose contributions allowed us to pivot in creative ways we had never imagined. Our community, bolstered by the enthusiasm of our advancement team, was excited to participate by the time the event came to fruition."

From the Judges

The week-long "un-gala" was an innovative way to reach donors and alumni during a time when the community was still dealing with the stress of the pandemic. The variety of party packs, auction items that emphasized experience rather than things, and the overall theme celebrated the perseverance and resilience of their school community.