Inspired by the iconic pop art movement, with a modern twist, the 6th Annual Gala on Saturday, November 11th, was a huge success. “A Gala That Pops!” raised an astounding $238,640 for The Center for the Arts, providing critical support for operations and programs such as the space-sharing initiative which gives drastically reduced rental rates to nonprofit organizations, student scholarships, and The CREATE youth arts education program.
“A Gala That Pops!” was a spectacular evening, featuring pop art-inspired fashion, a delicious catered meal by Emily’s Catering and Cakes, and a high-energy performance from Pop Rocks. The live auction, led by the dynamic Greg Quiroga from Stellar Fundraising Auctions, had the crowd on the edge of their seats. The live auction had exciting prizes such as an Ultimate VIP luxury racing experience with Indy 500 Winner Alexander Rossi at a 2024 Indycar Series event, a Bali trip for two, a wine-tasting trip extraordinaire in Healdsburg, a staycation at The Parsonage 1865, Sugarbowl ski passes, and many more.
The Center for the Arts would like to extend immense gratitude to our staff, Board of Directors, sponsors, and partners who worked tirelessly to ensure the gala’s success. The Center would like to especially recognize our Gala CO-Chairs, Olivia Pritchett and Lisa Swarthout, whose dedication and leadership were instrumental in orchestrating this remarkable event.
This event would not be possible without our 2023 Gala Event sponsors, including Stucki Jewelers, Event Helper, The Lee and Dunn Group, Baird, Anne’s Bookkeeping LLC, Mike Bratton Insurance, Stellar Fundraising Auctions, Emily’s Catering and Cakes, Courtyard Suites, and Mimi Simmons at Century 21 Cornerstone Realty. Their support is a testament to the community’s belief in the power of the arts.
Executive Director, Amber Jo Manuel, commented, “Every year I wonder how we are going to top ourselves and somehow, we keep hitting that mark. Your incredible creativity, enthusiasm, and generosity helped us achieve a record-breaking milestone, raising an incredible $238,640! I want to extend a special thank you to all of you who donated to our Fund the Need campaign. Without that support, we would not be able to continue to offer so many free and low-cost community-based events.”
