2011 Gala Benefits Student Aid
Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas served as the inspiration this year's Knight Before Christmas Gala. The school's largest fundraiser of the year involved hundreds of hours of planning and all members of the SJCS family, including students, staff, parents, friends, and community partners. Students were able to witness the gymnasium being magically transformed into "Whoville" on Friday, December 2nd during Gala Spirit Day. Dressed in SJCS spirit wear, the students enjoyed a "candy bar" spread of tables filled with candies, cookies, and treats during lunch. That evening featured a sneak preview "Girls Knight Out" with refreshments and a showing of How the Grinch Stole Christmas reserved exclusively for SJCS moms, daughters, aunts, grandmothers, and friends.
More than 400 guests enjoyed an evening of food, dancing, and fun at the Gala on Saturday night, December 3rd. Highlights from the evening included the involvement of St. Joseph's students: Knights Chorus members Kevin Carey, Abby DeMars, Kristen Farrenkopf, Katie Gagne, Amy Hase, Maddy Longenecker, Ian Miller, Katie Mobley, Patrick Mobley, and David Rogozenski performed several music selections; senior John Dutch served as event photographer; eighth-grader Yanni Koutsioukis played the bugle as he led the procession of food to open the buffet lines; and senior Katie Helvey's Falls Park painting sold for $1,000 during the live auction.
A Knight to Believe… and perhaps, a little bit more was made possible by the tireless efforts of Gala Co-Chairs Jeanie Gilmer and Diana Van Houten, and their incredible team of volunteers. All proceeds from the evening's festivities directly benefit the school's tuition assistance fund, which enables deserving students to attend St. Joseph's regardless of their financial situation.