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2014 Star Gala, “Wish Upon a Star”: Successful and Fun!

4/22/2014

The April 2014 Star Gala, Co-Chaired by Marcia Hoffbauer and Susan Kwiatkowski, which was held on April 12, was a fun filled and successful night for Assistance League of Indianapolis. The Star Gala is the organization’s premier fundraiser and is responsible for raising close to 20% of the funds needed to continue Assistance League’s philanthropic programs. These programs include Operation School Bell, Shoes: A Division of Operation School Bell, Assault Survivor Kits, ALI Friends, ALI Bears

The Mistress of Ceremonies was Beth Vaughn, Morning News Anchor of WRTV Channel 6, who also serves on Assistance League of Indianapolis Advisory Council. Her enthusiasm and commitment for the organization were evident in the energy she brought to announcing the evening’s events.

The evening began with a silent auction of over 245 items which covered a diverse range of options such as: a child sized electric mustang convertible; sports memorabilia including a football signed by Indianapolis Colts Player T.Y. Hilton and a basketball signed by the Indiana Pacers’ players and coaches; luxury restaurant gift cards; and weekend getaways. Attendees had the opportunity to participate in two raffles; a dazzling diamond necklace donated by Distinctive Diamonds was offered as well as a wreath of gift cards totaling $500. After dinner the bidding was lively during the live auction for exotic travel packages in and out of the United States as well Indianapolis based entertainment. The Broad Ripple Sertoma Club provided casino games and guests enjoyed dancing to music provided by DJ Joe Debiak & Sound Spectrum Entertainment.

Andrea Arbore, President of Assistance League of Indianapolis, presented the Star Award. This honor, which is not given out every year, was awarded to Broad Ripple Sertoma. A consistent and committed supporter of Assistance League of Indianapolis, this worthy organization has donated significant resources to our organization and promoted our philanthropy throughout the Indianapolis community. During his acceptance speech, the President of Broad Ripple Sertoma, Larry Hutchinson, noted the similar goals and commitment each organization has toward serving the Indianapolis community.

Assistance League was honored to have many other distinguished attendees whose organizations and companies have greatly supported Assistance League’s philanthropic programs. From Dow AgroSciences were:Antonio Galindez, current President and CEO; Tim Hassinger, President and CEO Elect, and Ben Crockett. Also attending was Dr. David Hillman, Program Officer, from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. Dayton Molendorp, Chairman of the Board of American United Mutual Insurance Holding Company as well as Scott Davison, President and CEO of American United Mutual Insurance Holding Company were present. Guests from Hunt Construction Group Included: Bill Morthland, Executive Vice President and Division Manager; Bruce Wylam, Vice President; Brian Woods, Vice President; Bruce Carter, Contract Manager; and Pam McNealy, Director of Business Development. Ryan McCracken from Shoe Carnival, whose partnership with Assistance League makes Shoes: A Division of Operation School Bell possible, attended. In addition, Betsy Giordano, Beyond the Bell funder, enjoyed the evening as did Katie Ellis, Program Assistant from The Clowes Fund and Patrick J. Burley, President and CEO, Meridian Investment Advisors. The Metropolitan School District of Warren Township was represented by:Dr. Dena Cushenberry, Superintendent; Tim Hanson, Assistant to the Superintendent, PreK-6;Lee Ann Kwiatkowski, Chief of Academics; Lou Ann Schwenn, Assistant to the Superintendent,7-Adult; and Brian Simkins, Director of Human Resources.

The 2014 Star Gala, “Wish Upon a Star”, was not only an entertaining evening for all attending, but also a shining opportunity to enable Assistance League of Indianapolis to continue funding its caring and commitment for its philanthropic programs.

To view photos taken by Brian Russelburg of Silvervisage Photography click here.
To view candid shots taken by the Assistance League Photography Committee, and Sophisticated Living Magazine, click here.

Gala Funds Raised Will Enable Caring and Commitment to Continue

4/3/2014

Attending the 2014 Star Gala will not just be enjoyable; member volunteers of Assistance League of Indianapolis and their guests will be gratified to know that the evening’s proceeds will benefit the organization’s philanthropic programs. Each year, funds raised from the Star Gala contribute an estimated 40% of the income needed to continue running the programs that provide assistance for underserved adults and children from the Indianapolis area.

Additionally, we completed the second full year of Beyond the Bell, a division of Operation School Bell, with 50 IPS elementary schools directly receiving clothing kits of new pants, polo shirts, socks, underwear and belts for immediate-need situations. This program was developed to help the many children who transfer into the districts after their schools visit Operation School Bell and they have no other means to obtain proper school clothing and others who face emergency situations of fire or domestic instability. In total, these kits contained over 7,900 clothing items, reaching an estimated additional 1,000 students.

Our three other programs Assault Survivor Kits ®, ALI Friends, and ALI Bears provide a special kind of comfort to those who receive these services. Assault Survivor Kits provide warm, comfortable, new clothing for victims of assault to wear home when their clothingis retained as evidence of the crime. Assault Survivor Kits are provided to 13 hospitals and agencies in the greater Indianapolis area. ALI Friends offer companionship and caring to enhance and improve the quality of life for older and disabled adults by organizing activities for guests or residents in two facilities: Joy's House, a not-for-profit adult day care center and North Capitol Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. ALI Bears provide comfort and a sense of peace to ill, traumatized or grieving children, teens, and adults by providing cuddly teddy bears assist in the healing process by filling empty arms with a friend to hug, love and care for. ALI Bears are delivered by Assistance League member volunteers to 16 area agencies such as hospitals, hospices, and family service centers.

Operation School Bell® is our largest philanthropic program thus our greatest need. The program provides clothing and shoes to students at or below the poverty level who are selected by the school social workers in their respective schools. We recently concluded the Operation School Bell clothing and shoe programs for the 2013-14 academic year with a budget of $378,700.

A total of 3,333 elementary students from IPS and the Metropolitan School Districts of Lawrence, Pike, Warren and Washington visited our “shop” at the Service Center for IPS to receive new school clothing. Each student personally selected new winter outerwear, school uniforms, polo shirts, a sweatshirt, a belt, underwear and socks, hygiene items, school supply kits and reading books, all of which were packed in a roomy duffle bag to take home. Almost 50,000 items, packages or kits were distributed.

During October 2013 and February 2014, 2601 students from IPS and the Metropolitan School Districts of Lawrence, Pike, Warren Washington and Wayne received new athletic shoes and two pairs of socks through our shoes program. In December, we distributed an additional 421 shoes and socks to students of IPS School 346 for a total of 3022 students receiving new shoes and socks under Shoes: A Division of Operation School Bell.

The 2014 Star Gala, Wish Upon a Star, will not only be an entertaining evening for all attending, but also a shining opportunity to enable Assistance League of Indianapolis to continue its caring and commitment to its philanthropic programs. It's not too late to make a reservation. Go to: www.stargala.alindy.org