Gala Evening Inspired

Gala Evening was an Inspiration!

After a two-year hiatus that included a cancelled dinner auction, and a virtual one due to COVID-19, the OCS community celebrated the return of an in-person gala in a big way! Over 800 guests enjoyed an upscale evening at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley on March 26.

Themed “You’re the Inspiration,” and featuring the Grammywinning band Chicago, the event exceeded expectations. The inspiring evening raised a preliminary of $1.3 million through silent, online, and live auctions, sponsorships, and ticket sales. The online auction itself netted $300,000, a new OCS online auction record! “It was amazing to have so many of our community together again, with an opportunity for face-to-face fellowship,” said Chief Development Officer Eddie Moore. “The event was an incredible success in many ways. The highlight for me was the generosity displayed by everyone in the room, from sponsors to volunteers, to board members, all centered around the OCS mission and impacting the students of today and the future!”

The biggest moment of the evening was the live announcement by Head of School Rob Black that the OCS Board of Trustees has approved for the expansion of Oaks Christian into a TK–12 grade school (see story on page 6).

Gala Evening was an Inspiration!

The evening was emceed by actor and OCS parent John O’Hurley and featured the legendary singer/songwriter Paul Anak with a special rendition of “My Way” tweaked just for the OCS community. OCS performing arts students and visual arts students set the mood with their music and arts as guests entered to check in.

The cocktail hour included the silent auction on the mezzanine floor and guests were able to bid on beautiful jewelry, sports items and memorabilia, vacation experiences, and other fabulous items. And back for another year was the dynamic Jim Nye, auctioneer extraordinaire who pleaded, pressured, and prodded guests to open up their wallets and support the school’s mission through the live auction. The three biggest live auction items were: a date night extravaganza for $16,000; a Goldendoodle puppy for $12,000, and a trip to the famed Pebble Beach with golf at Spanish Bay for $25,000.

Chicago thrilled the audience as they played many of their classic hits such as “Saturday in the Park,” “Does Anybody Really Know What Time it Is?” and of course, the evening’s theme “You’re the Inspiration.”

SUPPORTING ONE OAKS CHRISTIAN

Annual fund gifts make the most immediate impact in the life of the school because they are used in the year they are given.

The “One Oaks” Annual Fund will support the needs and priorities of the school each year and ensure excellence in ALL of our programs including academics, arts, and athletics.

Advancement of Oaks Christian School is a community-based effort to ensure annual funding for our outstanding programs, amazing teachers and the future of Christian education. Annual donations impact every area of the school. We work to build trust and partnership with our parents.

The Annual “One Oaks” Fund is the foundation of fundraising at Oaks Christian. Like other independent schools, unrestricted gifts provide critical resources for students, programs and teachers not covered by tuition. These gifts allow the forwardthinking and continuous improvement that is expected at a school the caliber of Oaks Christian.

Make a Gift

VISIT www.oakschristian.org/support CALL 818.575.9204 CONTACT Chief Development Officer Eddie Moore at emoore@oakschristian.org