The gala is an annual event held in the commons of McDaniel. It’s a time when clubs and organizations from the community get involved in a fundraiser.
The Community Gala started in 2024 because of the Schnitzer Care Foundation.
“The way Schnitzer Care works is if our club or program raises $750, they will give us $15,000 to give away,” Fields said.
Frank Fields, the business program teacher, started the gala in collaboration with Aketi Merrick’s Restorative Justice program.
The business management class decides how those funds are distributed.
Clubs get the opportunity to showcase what they’re about and make some money in the process. Clubs participating sell tickets and get half of the sales. Clubs also promote coming to the gala, so it’s a win-win for both.
“There’s live entertainment, there’s food from local restaurants. There’s a silent auction and a live auction,” Fields said.
These live auctions include bidding on art, guitars, and many more items. Items ranged from $15-150, one of the many items was an electric guitar. People could list a bid or bid silently by putting a piece of paper inside a box.
The band, mariachi, and dance programs are a few of these live performances you are able to see, as well as performances from the many other programs at school, like the Vietnamese club and the dance team.
Junior Dylan Puc Mena has been a part of the business program for two years and he shared that the outreach was extensive.
“This year we visited, I think, 200 businesses, asking for support,” Puc Mena said.
Last month, you could see students walking around 82nd talking to businesses. The organizers involved do it all, from brainstorming to organizing and decorations.
“The Restorative Justice class is in charge of decorations,” Merrick said.
This year’s theme was The Great Gatsby, and you could see the decorations represented that well. There were black and gold decorations and empty wine bottles as centerpieces. Entering the gala, there were students outside guiding you to the right entrance, as well as a welcoming team. There was also a gold and black background for photos.
“Our job is to make everyone feel welcome,” Puc Mena said.
The gala was fully staffed with students from the Business Management and launch classes, and anyone who wanted to help. The community got together for a night of fun and entertainment.
