Can’t find your sparkly shoes but you want to attend the annual gala and auction for TOGETHER!? No worries – this year’s event is online, so you don’t need those shoes. But you can still get your photo taken from the waist up while wearing fancy gala formal wear while you grab great drinks, meals and desserts to go. Then, head back home to attend the February 26 virtual event.
TOGETHER! is a nonprofit local organization that mobilizes families, schools and the community to solve community problems, serving the South Sound since 1989. Deputy Director Meghan Sullivan says this year’s online fundraising event has two parts: an auction and a gala. You can register now for both on TOGETHER’S website. The registration uses Handbid software that allows for remote bidding on auction items and packages in the week leading up to the virtual gala, as well as stream the virtual gala as you attend. Tickets to attend are free. Meals and drinks are available for purchase in advance, but pre-order closes Friday, February 18, the same day the online auction opens.
Online Auction
Sullivan says the online auction opens on February 18 and closes at 6:30 p.m. on February 26, just before the gala begins. She adds that the auction will feature a wide variety of items for bidders. “Things will continue appearing once you register,” she says. “We’ve loaded in more than half our packages, and we will continue loading items in the next several days and sending emails to help everyone get excited.”
Examples of bid items donated so far include a Desserts for a Year package by home bakers and local vendors such as Humble Cow and Gotti Sweets; a Bengali culinary and cultural experience for 10 with a five-course meal by chef Khurshida of ASHHO; four summer nights in Whistler Village; a beach getaway ot Birch Bay; Seattle Mariners tickets and parking; Tacoma Rainiers tickets; a private film showing for 20 from the Olympia Film Society; spa packages; art; coffee; jewelry; gift certificates; an amazing massage package from Ballaura Wellness Spa; a wine package; a healing session with rebEARTHing; a spring season package from the Olympia Family Theater and more!
Online Gala
The gala pre-show starts at 6:45 p.m. on February 26, after the online auction closes. The gala program starts at 7 p.m., to run in less than an hour. The livestream will feature stories from TOGETHER!’s staff and partners. It will also highlight three TOGETHER! programs. “They will be brief and moving stories about the impact of our work and an invitation to contribute to the mission,” Sullivan says.
To get ready for the gala, by February 18 at 5 p.m. pre-order and pay for your mojito cocktails kits from Nicole’s Bar, ‘Buy One Give One’ dinners by ASHHO Cultural & Community Center, and mini-cakes by Gotti Sweets. When attendees pick up their drinks and food at ASHHO on February 26, Sullivan says they can also get their photos taken at a photo booth, “ressed up from the waist up.” So, no fancy shoes are required but go all out from the waist up! “There will be a prize for the best-dressed,” Sullivan says.
Attendees may also submit photos of themselves wearing their formal gala fashions even if they don’t stop by the photo booth. Sullivan says the photos need to be publicly viewable and persons can submit them to TOGETHER! by posting on Facebook or with the event’s hashtag #DressedUpFromtheWaistUp.
The three featured programs are Host Homes, Club House and Community Schools. Host Homes is a new community-based, short-term housing response to help meet the needs of unaccompanied high school students in the North Thurston and Tumwater school districts. The goal is to intervene before youth experience chronic houselessness, and to help students pursue educational goals, develop and strengthen life skills and transition to stable independent housing.
“If we can provide youth with stable housing now, we are preventing them from experiencing chronic homelessness as an adult,” says Meagan Darrow, TOGETHER! executive director. “The intervention of stable, supportive, hosted housing with skill building and case management sets them on a path towards stable housing for the rest of their lives.”
Club House delivers before- and- after-school and out of school time programs in two elementary schools and two middle schools. The programs feature project-based learning and science, technology, engineering, arts and math focused activities, and dual language Spanish and English programming.
Community Schools provides wrap-around supports to K-12 students and families in the Tumwater and Olympia school districts to enhance student and parent engagement, improve attendance, reduce dropouts and increase graduation rates.
While many attendees will be watching the gala from their homes, Sullivan says some are planning small private viewing parties. TOGETHER! will provide information to all registered guests about how to stream the event from a Smart TV.
Sponsors
Local event partners and sponsors include:
- Matching Gift Partner – Drew Phillips
- Challenge Sponsor -Collins Family and Collins Team – Fairway Mortgage
- Platinum Sponsors – TwinStar Credit Union, Olympia Federal Savings and Kiehl Northwest
- Gold Sponsors – Chicago Title, WSECU, SPSCC Foundation, and Multicare
- Silver Sponsors – Timberland Bank
- Bronze Sponsor – 1st Security Bank and Skip Houser
- Event Partners also include EventSupport, Gotti Sweets, Porcupine Media, ASHHO Cultural & Community Center
More sponsorships are still available. For questions about the auction or gala, email events@thurstontogether.org. Can’t attend? You can still give a gift that makes a difference by donating online.
TOGETHER!
1520 Irving St SW Suite A, Tumwater
360.493.2230
Sponsored
