BSM tries to increase its enrollment rates each year, so they host an annual gala to raise funds for the school. This year, the theme for the gala was a “Golden Knight,” focusing on BSM’s 50th anniversary.
The gala is the number one way the school raises funds to help cover the additional cost of each student’s tuition. The gala features a live auction with a variety of experiences and trips that anyone can try to get their hands on. BSM wants to make it an engaging experience that everyone can participate in. “There’s going to be golf outings, wakeboards, tubes for boats, and gift cards to different restaurants and shops,” Head Director of the gala committee Catie Scherer Brackin said.
The gala does not just happen overnight. There is the gala committee that has been planning this gala for quite some time. And with them the gala can happen smoothly. “There’s a ton of stuff everybody on my committee has worked super hard to come up with,” Brackin said.
While a majority of the money is used to cover tuition, the rest of the money BSM receives is used for other things that help BSM run, and anyone can be a part of it! “Other money that we bring in is used for a lot of the programming that happens on the campus. So clubs, sports teams, heating and air conditioning…and to continue working on updates to classrooms,” Brakin said.
It’s very important because it is our largest community fundraising event. This year we will have the golden theme in keeping with our anniversary celebrations.”
— Mary Fran O'Keefe
While the gala happens every year, this year is extra important because it is the 50th year since the schools Benilde and St. Margaret’s merged to become Benilde-St. Margaret’s. The theme this year is “golden” so BSM incorporated it into the gala by changing the name from “A Knight for All Seasons” to “A Golden Knight” and further enhancing the theme with golden decorations. “It’s very important because it is our largest community fundraising event. This year we will have the golden theme in keeping with our anniversary celebrations,” Director of Alumni Relations and Community Mary Fran O’Keefe said.
In order to get the extra funds they need, BSM tries to make their gala a fun experience for the attendees by providing dinner and drinks. Other than the fact that you have to be over the age of 21, anyone who wants to support BSM is welcome to join. “Current parents, alums, people who want to support BSM, really anyone is welcome to join,” Brackin said.