BSM gala provides fun and funding
Members of the BSM community received an invitation to “A Knight for All Seasons”
Every year, Benilde-St.Margaret’s holds a community fundraising gala to help support various aspects of the BSM community. This year, the event massed a large number of attendees and funds raised.
The gala took place on Saturday, November 6th at the Minneapolis Marriott Southwest. The silent auction was held from 5:30-7:30, the dinner at 8, and the live auction and fund-a-need at 9.
Due to the generosity of the BSM community, and the help of professional auctioneer Sarah Jean Knox, the event was able to raise $263,000 in total; the Fund-A-Need alone raising $176,000 for tuition assistance, which helps keep education at BSM accessible for everyone.
For over 30 years, the “A Knight for All Seasons” gala has been held for staff, parents, and alumni alike. While it benefits many aspects of the BSM community, it mainly serves two purposes. It allows parents to come together, get to know one another, and celebrate a larger cause. Moreover, it serves as a large fundraiser to help support different parts of the community. “[It helps] support the school technology, programming, faculty and staff needs, different curriculum changes, as well as tuition assistance. So that’s kind of the main thing it funds,” Director of Alumni Relations and Parents Stewardship, Mrs. Rachel Kuzma Olson said.
It was a really good evening of community, people getting to know each other and kind of coming back together again. And then we also raise some money for the school.
— Rachel Kuzma Olson
After not being able to hold the gala last year due to COVID-19, it was important for members of the community to feel involved and connected to BSM. With the help of emcee Belinda Jenson, a meteorologist and BSM parent, as well as guest speaker Mary Fran O’Keefe, the event had a lively feel. “It was a really good evening of community, people getting to know each other and kind of coming back together again. And then we also raise some money for the school,” Olson said.
The gala puts a big emphasis on supporting the needs of the students, which is why a large portion of the money donated is used for tuition assistance. Parents, administrators, alumni, faculty and staff also benefit due to the support through donations and a sense of community. “Everybody benefits because it’s making our community stronger by giving us access to new programs, new technology, and really just helping to support different initiatives at school,” Olson said.
An appealing aspect of the gala is the live-auction, where people are able to bid on various items for sale. Some of the more exciting auction items include vacation houses in Mexico and Colorado. A meet and greet with the Yankees manager was up for auction as well as a round of golf with BSM’s very own president, Dr. Adam Ehrmantraut. “One popular item is always Taher lunch credit. We had a BSM parking spot, front row, up for auction as well,” Olson said.
In years past, “A Knight for All Seasons” had an additional theme. Previous themes include a Paris theme and “Celebrating our IncREDible Red Knights.” With the decision not to have the event last year, the coordinators have decided to take the ‘theme’ in a different direction. “This year, we’re really just using a “Knight for all Seasons” and just want to get back to our roots,” Olson said.
