Game on Gala

On May 22, 2021, Wesley had its first entirely online fundraising event — the Game on Gala!

Back in January, what started as a simple trivia party-book idea quickly evolved into an even bigger and better night of fun and fundraising than we ever expected. Little did we know that we were putting on a gala, just online style. The big questions were: Are we ready for this? Would people want to come to our silly Zoom trivia event? Would it be better if we sold food? Since we’ll have people together, should we try to sell off some items that were donated for last year’s gala-that-never-was? And lastly, can we use this opportunity to raise money for something the school really needs?

We decided the answer to all of that was a resounding “Yes!” and leaned into it, putting together an evening to remember in record time. After a couple of months of strategic planning, we assembled some delicious food and drink vendors (Shappys Pretzels, Low Boy Bar, and Bar Flores), almost 100 silent auction and raffle items, and two amazing live auction items (Thanks to the Fulton Family and the Gershon Family!). All we needed was guests.

We ended up with over 200 party people in attendance. Sure, we weren’t all wining, dining, and dancing together in an event hall, but the atmosphere was no less electric. Between rounds of (surprisingly difficult) trivia, people hooted and hollered, caught up with their friends, and even trash talked a little. Some vaccinated families even gathered with their teams in person and had a mini party of their own. It brought the community together in so many more ways than we had dared hope. Not to mention that it raised almost $80,000 for the newly named Wesley Commons!

A huge Thank You to everyone who made this event possible:

Lindsey Drasin Dyllan Fernandez Beth Fulton Julie Galles Jenny Hollier Lisa Lange Mariah Leavitt Tammy Rodriguez Marissa Seeman Larry Sullivan and Dave Monahan King Trivia

The following donors helped underwrite the cost of the event through sponsorships, ensuring that Wesley staff could attend free of charge. Michelle Albert and Bryan Barrett Garet and Trey Batchelor Becca and Matthew Bellamy Brittany Berg Rachel and Michael Bernstein Lisa Carmiris Waks and Todd Waks Allison and David Chalfin Mark and Nancy Daniels Nicole DeLeon and Jason Hoover Amy and Josh DiBianca Tina and Rob Dickinson Melanie and Thomas Elliott Natalia and Scott Ewalt The Fernandez Mercer Family Lori Caden and Warren Friedman Beth and David Fulton Kathleen Gallagher Oona and Paul Hanson Lisa Loeb and Roey Hershkovitz Jenny and Christopher Hollier David and Tina Hookom Cathryn Humphris Lisa and Daniel Katz Clare and Wayne Knight The Kolanach Family Ilana and Daniel Krechmer Christine and Dave Kushner Jennifer and Franklyn Larivee Urvashi Block-Larson and Scott Larson Jackie Lay Mariah and Matthew Leavitt Christine and Jung Lim Jeanne-Marie and Christopher Lindsay Tessa Matthias Alexis and Sebastian Morton Mimi and Michael Narducci Sarah and William Odenkirk Laura Ise and David Ono Gennifer Hutchison and Andrew Ortner Peter Phillips and Michael Gardner Alana and Gregory Polcsa Jeanine Detz and David Porter Elizabeth Bogush and Lukas Reiter Jessica Lacy and Christopher Sanata Abigail and Conrad Sison Esq. Aviva and Ben Sokolowski Sailaja Yenepalli and Hemanand Subbiyan Larry Sullivan and David Monahan Jo Taylor Hillary and Jermaine Turner Erin and Brett Underhill Carrie and Paolo Velasco Josie Ventura and Raul Ruvalcaba Jr. Andrea and Alan Waldman Morgan and Matt Walsh

The following people raised their (virtual) paddle and made a contribution toward the creation of “The Wesley Commons”

Anonymous (3) Michelle Albert and Bryan Barrett Michelle Allegra Traci Allen Catherine and John Aquino Ramsey Avery and Scott Ault Gemma and Greg Baker Garet and Trey Batchelor Dena and John Beck Becca and Matthew Bellamy Lauren and Brendon Blincoe Urvashi Block-Larson and Scott Larson Aileen Cuesta-Brown and Douglas Brown Nicole Carrasco and Erin Saltzman Allison and David Chalfin Kimberly and Christopher Clarke Sr. Mark and Nancy Daniels Julianne and Nicholas Davey Nicole DeLeon and Jason Hoover Verena and Russell Denove Tomiko and Pierre Derbier Samantha Donnelly and Alex Banner Lindsey and Shane Drasin Melanie and Thomas Elliott Natalia and Scott Ewalt Dyllan Fernandez The Fernandez Mercer Family Alicyn Packard and Jason Friedman Jessica Fuselier and Daniel Fuselier Jennifer and Adam Gershon Kevin Greene Marla Saltzman and Forest Guider Soyon and Baz Halpin Barbara Hancock Anderson Elizabeth and Stephen Heneveld Jenny and Christopher Hollier David and Tina Hookom Thordis Howard Georgiann Huff The Kolanach Family Julie Lanctot Jennifer Lanski Jennifer and Franklyn Larivee Mariah and Matthew Leavitt Jeanne-Marie and Christopher Lindsay Tessa Matthias Jamie Silberhartz and Adam Mays Maryam Malakpour and Rawdon Messenger Janett Hermosillo and Karl Alonso Meyer Larry Sullivan and David Monahan Anna Fudacz and Steven Montgomery Alexis and Sebastian Morton Rachel and Phillip Mottaz Mimi and Michael Narducci Marie and Michael Natividad Collette Nolte and Stephen Nolte Gennifer Hutchison and Andrew Ortner Daniela and Matt Osborn Peter Phillips and Michael Gardner Alana and Gregory Polcsa Sara Rue and Kevin Price Elisabeth Abbott and Ryan Raddatz Elizabeth Bogush and Lukas Reiter Tammy Rodriguez Aimee and Steven Schwimmer Katharine and Paul Shapiro Kyle and Neysa Siefert Jessica and Sylvester Stewart Jr. Sailaja Yenepalli and Hemanand Subbiyan Samantha and Grant Thompson Hillary and Jermaine Turner Jennifer Mercer and Andrew Van Meter Deb and Peter Vaughan Melinda and Mauricio Vazquez Carrie and Paolo Velasco Andrea and Alan Waldman Nicole Kuklok-Waldman and Stuart Waldman Morgan and Matt Walsh Danielle and Josh Zaretsky

Wesley School Matriculation | Class of 2020

The Wesley Class of 2020, comprised of 37 students, was accepted to 20 schools. Of those 20, they chose to matriculate to 14 - Buckley, Crespi, Dwight Global, Flintridge Sacred Heart, Harvard-Westlake, Immaculate Heart, Loyola, Marlborough, Marymount, Notre Dame, Oakwood, Providence, Viewpoint, and Westridge.

Equally impressive is the list of colleges that some members of the Wesley Class of 2016, comprised of 25 students, chose to attend. That list includes American Academy of the Dramatic Arts, Cornell University, Emerson College, Goucher College, Hawaii Pacific University, Loyola Marymount University, Macalester College, Middlebury College, New Mexico State, New York’s School of Visual Arts, Pacific Northwest School of Art, Savannah School of Art & Design, Stanford University, University of Arizona, University of Delaware, University of Pennsylvania, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Wesley School Matriculation | Class of 2021

The Wesley Class of 2021, comprised of 33 students, was accepted to 22 schools. Of those 22, they chose to matriculate to 13 - Buckley, Campbell Hall, Ensworth, Flintridge Prep, Harvard-Westlake, Immaculate Heart, Marlborough, Notre Dame, Providence, SAS at NHHS, Sierra Canyon, VIP Charter, and Westridge.

Equally impressive is the list of colleges that some members of the Wesley Class of 2017, comprised of 39 students, chose to attend. That list includes American University, Chapman, Colorado State, Emerson College, Georgetown, Ithaca College, Michigan State, Northeastern, NYU, Oregon, Reed, Rhode Island School of Design, San Diego State University, Trinity College Dublin, Tulane, UC Berkeley, UCLA, University of Arizona, University of Denver, and University of Vermont.