Gala: On a Safari

GALA

Gala 2020 On a Safari Reimagined Virtually

In early March, just as in the previous 39 years, it was Gala season at Woodside Priory School. Our 2020 Gala, On A Safari was fast approaching. Cynthia Mahood Levin and her diligent committee had completed most of the work: auction items were procured, Count Me in Parties were planned, centerpieces were designed, and menus were selected–all in preparation for a fantastic evening at Sharon Heights Country Club. Priory parents had done their part as well: tickets bought, donations made, tables organized, and parents were ready to show off their animal prints and safari gear.

Then with shock and awe, the Shelter in Place orders were invoked, social gathering were not to be, and many of our plans were scrapped. But the Priory community quickly regrouped to make all aspects of the evening, silent auction, live auction, raffle and Fund a Future switch to an online format. In just days, marketing videos were produced and sent via email to highlight special offerings in our Live Auction like Fr. Martin’s clock and trips. Past parents and alumni were invited to participate and registered for online bid paddles. Every constituent of the Priory community came together to rally for Priory by purchasing auction items and gifting our Fund a Future campaign. Much looked very different from years past. Emails and videos replaced our auctioneer. Gift certificates were mailed. Letters replaced in person thank you’s at check-out. We conducted a masked curbside pick-up of items. We held our raffle drawing with a video and published in the weekly bulletin. Despite the extraordinary circumstances and the lack of an in person gathering, some things remained the same. The spirit and strength of the Priory Community remained steadfast. Our Fund a Future coffers were filled to support those in our community who needed it most. We innovated allowing for supporters to support without being present. And– just as in nature, our On A Safari Gala migrated and truly became the survival of the fittest.

We wish to thank the herd of volunteers who worked to make our On A Safari Gala a success, starting with our Gala Chair Cynthia Mahood Levin who worked tirelessly to bring in fabulous Live items and keep the excitement and momentum of On A Safari moving forward. Her loyal committee of standout volunteers were stellar. Courtney Caccia worked her magic with Communication and Marketing tying in safari puns and cute African animals to our Daily Bulletins and weekly Gala emails. Robin Murray, Mimi Blaurock and Maria Johnson secured and organized wine donations with wonderful descriptive write ups. Evita Twerdahl, Haley Parr, Megan Scott, Anshu Gupta, Patricia Qaqundah, Maria Chen, Hattie Shieh, Uma Rani Iyli, and Virginia Huff man had décor on point and ready to go: from a welcoming entry, to a photo wall, to centerpieces and fl ower arrangements. Emilia Schor, Elaine Pao, Donna Chandra, Christina Baszucki, Juliana Johnson, and Julie Sheng took the charge of gathering tickets, vacation homes, pride of Priory items, parties and gift certifi cates for our online auction. Linda Thomas, Julie Dickerson and Mary Duling brought their creativity to our tasty cakes. Ann Marie Strohman checked and rechecked as she edited our online catalog. Carolyn Putney donned her safari outfi t to implore our community to donate to Fund A Future. It was a large group eff ort and a pleasure to witness our Priory community quickly pivot and come together to support our beloved school.

DEVELOPMENT

Annual Fund Class Chairs

We so appreciate the dedicated volunteerism of our Annual Fund Class Chairs. The fi rst most important gift made in support of the school is a gift to the Annual Fund. Each fall they roll up their sleeves and rally support for the school among the parents of their child’s class. We achieved 83% participation for the 2019-20 school year, thanks to the partnership of these parents and the generosity of the parent community.

Class of 2026 - Wendy McAdam and Brian Cox Class of 2025 - Laurie Kacin and Linda Walters Class of 2024 - Helen Amick and Dee Dee Dickey Class of 2023 - Kristine Collins and Misti Sangani Class of 2022 - Susie Schinski and Nancy Rosenthal Class of 2021 - Jill Mallott and Lisa Ring Class of 2020 - Norma Alvarez and Mollie Hudner Thompson

Congratulations and Thank you!

Priory will forever be grateful to Kristi Patterson and Carolyn Putney for their incomparable leadership over the last two years as Co-Presidents of the Priory Parent Association. From enhancing the Class Parent structure to introducing our new Head of School virtually, Kristi and Carolyn have led the parent community with agility and imagination during two of the school’s most unusual years. Priory thanks these amazing women for their devotion to the school!

Long term parent engagement leaves a lasting legacy!

Congratulations to all the parents of the Class of 2020 on the extraordinary graduation of your children. In particular, we thank the following parents who are graduating to Priory’s Alumni Parent Association, for their tremendous volunteerism through many roles and over many years. Your dedication to Priory, your commitment to our values and your willingness to share your gifts in partnership with the school to enhance the community have made a lasting impact over the course of your time with us. We are forever grateful.

Jean Barbagelata Melissa Beriker Mimi Blaurock Evan and M.J. Castelo Cindy Cheung Mary Duling Mark and Lisa Gainey Paula and Greg Hughes Maria Johnson Laurie Shelton Regina and Souheil Saliba

Stay tuned for news of a Priory Alumni Parent Association social outdoors this fall!

How blessed we are to be members of a community grounded in values that have withstood the test of time, and values that have carried and guided us during this pandemic. How gifted we are to have exemplary educators who genuinely love and care for our students who worked tirelessly to reimagine and reconfigure what makes a Priory education special. How fortunate we are to have such dedicated, generous supporters who believe in the foundational values of Benedictine education. Thanks to your enthusiastic support of the annual fund this fall and your exuberant response to our first online Gala, Priory was well-positioned to undertake the financial challenges of the pandemic. We are most grateful for the time, talent, and treasure of our parent community, in particular, for your partnership as together, we successfully navigated the uncertainties of the last three months. Alumni Liaison Todd Turner welcomed the Class of 2020 into Priory’s Alumni Association through a virtual induction ceremony and invited them back to campus (in person) on December 19th for their first alumni event–Home for the Holidays. Our traditional Alumni Reunion postponed due to the shut down is tentatively rescheduled for October 17th. When Benedict wrote his Rule, society was falling apart. Though materially prosperous, the Roman Empire was in a state of decline. Barbarian hordes overran Europe, and the very survival of Western civilization was called into question. Benedictine monasteries–with their message of balance and moderation, stability, hospitality, community, and stewardship–were credited with the preservation of Western culture, and Benedict himself was named patron of Europe. When a crisis hits, no matter the size, we lean on the enduring strength of our values to carry us through. The 2019-20 school year will forever be defined by these last three months when the pandemic required us to Shelter in Place, away from each other, and the beautiful oasis that is the Priory campus. We look forward to safely coming together again this fall to welcome our new families to our beautiful campus and to share our sustainable Benedictine values with them. We are all ready for a fresh start. The positive force that is Patrick Ruff, who becomes our new Head of School on July 1st, is prepared to lead the way toward a new beginning. Grounded in the past, we look to the future with hope and promise.

PAX - until we meet again,

Suzanne Couch Director of Development