An annual celebration of community and generosity in support of Ursuline scholarships.

Ursuline Gala logoThe Ursuline Gala is the Academy’s largest fundraising event of the year. It brings parents, alumnae, families, friends, and community partners together to celebrate Ursuline and support scholarships for young women.

Each Gala has its own theme, but its purpose remains the same: helping more students experience an Ursuline education rooted in faith, academic rigor, Serviam, and community. The evening typically includes dinner, entertainment, student or alumnae stories, live and silent auctions, a raffle, and an opportunity to give directly to scholarships.

 

The 2027 Ursuline Gala: Saddle Up & Sparkle will be a western chic evening full of glamour, community, and Ursuline spirit!

Saturday, February 27, 2027 at the Astoria Event Venue

Poster for the 2027 Ursuline Gala

We are currently looking for volunteers, auction donations, and corporate sponsors. Please complete the interest form, and we will be in touch soon.

Gala Volunteer and Donor Interest Form

Volunteer Role Descriptions

Gala Chair/Co-Chair
Lead the charge in planning and promoting the gala—partnering with the Fundraising Event Officer to coordinate volunteers, shape the event’s theme, and help drive fundraising success.

Live/Big Board Auction Team
Help secure exciting live auction packages through outreach and collaboration and support the creation of polished promotional content for each item.

Silent Auction Team
Solicit and organize silent auction items, assist with display and online setup, and help ensure a smooth guest bidding experience.

Raffle
Dream up a fresh, exciting raffle item and drive ticket sales through outreach, promotion, and coordination with the auction team

Auction Item Description Writer
Craft engaging, persuasive descriptions for each item in our online auction catalog. Your words will help bring each item to life—highlighting its unique features, appeal, and value to inspire bidders to click and bid.

Auction Visuals Coordinator
Responsible for uploading high-quality, eye-catching photos to our online auction catalog—making each item irresistible to bidders. You’ll also work closely with our content creator to ensure the best visuals are used in short promotional videos for live auction items.

Sponsorships
Engage local businesses and community partners to secure sponsorships. Help with outreach, follow-up and recognition of sponsors in coordination with the Development Team.

Data Entry
Support accurate and timely data entry before, during, and after the gala—including entry of all auction item details, auction transactions, and donor updates—using our auction platform, ClickBid.

Decorations
Help bring the gala’s theme to life by assisting with the execution and/or creation of decorations, as envisioned by the Event Chair and event planner.

Onsite Volunteer Coordinator
Oversee all parent/alumnae volunteers and student ambassadors during the event to ensure smooth operations and timely support.

Stewardship
Partner with the Director of Stewardship in supporting donor appreciation efforts—helping with thank-you notes, recognition tracking, and follow-up communications tied to gala contributions.

Reservations
Assist with managing guest reservations, seating assignments, and special requests in coordination with the Fundraising Events Officer.

Check-In & Check-Out Support
Tech-comfortable volunteers to assist with guest check-in and check-out at the gala, working directly with our auction platform’s event support team to ensure a smooth experience.

Auction Item Pickup (Post-Event)
Manage post-event auction item pickup at Ursuline—coordinating with winners, preparing items for distribution, and ensuring accurate tracking and handoff.

 

Get Involved

There are many ways to support the Gala, whether or not you can attend the event!

Sponsor
Sponsor

Support Gala as an individual, family, or corporate partner.

Host a Table
Host a Table

Gather friends, family, or colleagues for the evening.

Donate to the Auction
Donate to the Auction

Contribute an item, service, trip, or experience.

Bid or Enter the Raffle
Bid or Enter the Raffle

Participate in person or online when bidding is available.

Volunteer
Volunteer

Share your time and talents with the Gala committee.

Give to Scholarships
Give to Scholarships

Make a direct gift in support of Ursuline students.

Ursuline Gala advertisement for 2026

Going for Gold: 2026 Gala Recap

The 35th Annual Ursuline Gala was on Saturday, February 21, 2026

The Going for Gold Gala was a powerful celebration of community, generosity, and belief in the transformative gift of an Ursuline education. Thanks to the extraordinary support of our attendees, sponsors, donors, and volunteers, the evening raised more than $800,000 for scholarships, ensuring that more young women will have access to an Ursuline education.

From spirited bidding and heartfelt storytelling to a record-setting paddle raise, the night reflected what makes this community so special: a shared commitment to opening doors for the next generation of leaders.

We are deeply grateful to our Gala Chairs, Nicole Russell and Allison McAfee, committee members, sponsors, and every guest who made the evening such a success. The impact of this generosity will be felt for years to come.

Scholarship Impact

One of the most meaningful moments of the evening came when alumna Ingrid Castillo ’08 shared how a scholarship, funded by someone she never met, changed the trajectory of her life.

Her story is a powerful reminder that generosity creates opportunity and how opportunity changes lives.

Contact the Gala Team

Have a question about attending, sponsoring, donating, or volunteering? The Gala Team is here to help.

 

Giving