The Centrum Gala Dinner and Auction is an elegant social evening and a very successful fundraiser for Centrum. Last year, the sold-out event generated over $230,000 for Centrum programs and scholarships, a new record. One hundred-fifty volunteers worked all year to make the evening happen. Five hundred individuals and businesses donated beautiful objects, valuable services, and unique experiences to the auction. And 330 patrons raised their paddles to support Centrum.

We are excited about building on that success.

We are extremely grateful to our Presenting Sponsor Kitsap Bank for significantly underwriting this year’s Gala. Their support reminds us how the event is a true celebration of Centrum’s support in the community. The theme for 2007 is Imagine, because at core that is what Centrum has always been about. Many thanks to Gala chair Jean Marzan for her creativity in coming up with this theme.

We will be working with Dream City Catering, which promises a whole different kind of culinary experience than Gala patrons have known in past years, utilizing fresh and organic ingredients, and sustainable produce from local and regional farms, creating an innovative and distinctive menu saturated with flavor.

To create some “breathing room” in the evening for social interaction, and honor the sense of community that is so much of what Centrum is all about, we are scaling back the size of the silent auction. Our focus in both the silent and live auction will be on experiences—artistic events, educational experiences, vacations, day trips, cultural tours, gourmet dinners, and fabulous parties. We invite you to help us create and put packages together that will be alluring to Gala patrons and inspire generous buying in support of Centrum.

We will present a photo-documentary of Centrum’s 2007 programs by Fawn Art Photography. Special guests—artists and students whose lives have been changed—will tell their story and remind us why we come together on this special night. The evening will be a celebration of your philanthropy.

Table Host Co-chairs Cindy McBride and Holley Carlson will be soliciting table hosts again this year but you certainly don’t need to know a table host to attend. The Gala is a very popular event, last year we did sell out, and encourage anyone wanting to attend to let us know early. Look for your formal invitations late summer, or just give us a call. If you have any questions, we welcome them and look forward to hearing from you, and save the date—October 13!

Thank you for your commitment to creativity.
   
Mary Hilts
Gala Coordinator         
(360) 385-3102 ext. 116

Presenting Sponsor for the 2007 Centrum Gala