Faith Gala tops $300,000 goal
Glynis Crawford Smith/The Highlander
Megan Nunnally, an alumna at the Faith Academy Gala Saturday, Jan. 21, left, purchases a glowing ring for a chance to win diamond earrings from Salem's Jewelry from Carlie Bonomo and Kiley Magerkurth. A silent auction, prize drawings and a big ticket live auction added up to break the $300,000 goal for the event.
By Glynis Crawford Smith
The Highlander
Gala goers raised some $328,000 at the Faith Academy Gala it was announced at the close of the event Saturday, Jan. 21.
“Because of the generosity of so many faithful friends, we exceeded our record-setting fundraising goal of $300,000,” said Faith Administrator Joseph Rispoli.
“Thank you to all who worked tirelessly on sponsorship and auction donations, beautifully decorated the venue, and ensured our guests were smoothly checked in/out,” said an announcement from Dawn Madigan and Gail Cali- Gala Committee chairwomen. “We give a special thanks to Trey Poage for being our winning auctioneer honor, and grace.”
It was an evening for alumni, with a good number represented among guests in the audience. The featured speaker was Stephen Brewer. A former scholarship graduate, he attended Blinn College before being recruited by the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin. He is now associate director of the Austin Disaster Relief Network, a non-profit of 175 greater Austin churches and a network of volunteers who are trained, prepared and ready to meet the emotional, spiritual and physical needs of those affected by disaster.
Entertainment was provided by alumna Jessa Gray Myer, who attended Manhattan Christian College in Manhattan, Kansas after graduating Faith Academy. The lead singer of the Marble Falls First Baptist Church Praise and Worship Team, she is a wife and mother of two.
“We send our heartfelt thanks to Stuart and Rebecca Nunnally for their unending love and support for Faith Academy,” said Donna Wilcox, director of development.
