Betting On Our Students

Night for Northville gala goes all in for educational opportunities

By Tim Smith

When it comes to helping Northville schools’ students have a better chance to reach for the stars in life, the Northville Educational Foundation is front and center.

Which is why the NEF is set to host its Night for Northville annual gala – this year with the casino theme of “Betting on our Students.” The event runs 6:30 to 11 p.m. Saturday, March 11 at Northville Square, 133 West Main Street.

“It’s raising support for students, teachers and staff of the district,” said Kate Mitchell, NEF executive director. “We’re all coming together and we’re betting on them and their future.”

Concurring was Night for Northville committee chairperson Marissa Edwards.

“As parents, teachers and adults in our community, we have confidence in our students’ abilities to meet the challenges that will help them reach their potentials,” said Edwards. “Raising money to be given back to our schools is going to provide unique opportunities to help them” do just that.

This year’s gala ($150 for a general admission ticket) is looking to draw more than 300 people, which would be a turnout on-par with what would have been attendance in 2020 – the year in which NEF had to cancel the event at the last minute due to the onset of COVID-19. The presenting sponsor is Royal Truck & Utility Trailer.

In 2022, a smaller celebratory gala took place at Meadowbrook Country Club in Northville.

“We had one last year at Meadowbrook but it still had to be modified a little bit because of (the) Omicron (variant),” Mitchell said. “This year we’re having it at the Northville Square on the second floor.

“It’s a large area. On the south side of the building we’ll have our casino set up. Lava Grille is going to be our caterer and provide an open bar for us. And then we’ll have silent auctions spread out throughout.”

Providing live entertainment will be the Northville Folk Band. Emceeing the festivities will be Northville parent and business owner Robert Miller, who owns M Architects.

According to Mitchell, the general admission ticket enables guests to walk around the venue, sampling “heavy hors d’oeuvres” and take part in a wine pull among other attractions.

The wine pull raffle ($25 to enter) enables patrons to randomly pull one of 75 bottles of wine out of paper bags.

“We’ll have some tables but it will mostly be a strolling reception,” Mitchell noted. “We found that a lot of people at Meadowbrook last year loved the casino, but it was a smaller venue. This year, we’re able to open it up more and have more tables, so there’ll be more opportunities for people to play. There’ll be some high tops in there so people can watch as well.”

There also will be a VIP reception hosted by Lava Grille, with tickets available at $200.

“If you are a VIP you get to arrive 30 minutes prior to the event to have a cocktail inside Lava Grille,” Mitchell said. “You’ll have a table to reserve for the whole evening, it could be home base for guests for the night.”

The VIP admission includes an exclusive bar and valet option, she said.

Revenue generated at Night for Northville will be put towards various programs including the district’s “Investing in Innovation Fund”, grants for teachers, the annual Parent Camp and the Northville

STEAM Fair.

According to Edwards, a Northville parent, money generated at Night for Northville will provide supplemental funding “for more opportunities to create exciting enrichment programs” in the district, including STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) programs, leadership development programs and teacher grants.

Through such endeavors, Edwards emphasized Northville Public Schools will have a better chance to strengthen what is “arguably the best (district) in the state of Michigan,” no small feat considering the relatively small amount of per-pupil funding when compared to other districts, she added.

By holding fundraisers such as the casino night, Edwards said parents and other supporters of the NEF have an opportunity to help the district do even more for its children.

“We want our kids to get the best education possible, to be as successful as possible here and now, and beyond,” Edwards stressed. “And the donations from NEF (are) essential in making sure that’s possible.”

Also back this year is a chance for school PTAs to nab a check for $500, simply by having the largest contingent of attendees at the gala. In 2022, Winchester Elementary School took the honors.

NEF, founded in 2000 by school parents and community members, is a 501(c)3 charitable organization “dedicated to supporting enrichment programs to benefit all Northville students.”

To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www. SupportNEF.org.

Members of the Unity Skatepark team visited the site in January. From left are Jack Kelly, Gabriella Duhn, Vince Onel of Spohn Ranch (the company that is building the park), Jeff Scroggs, park superintendent Nate Reilly, and Andy Whitmire. Photo courtesy of Northville Township.