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St. Vrain Valley Gala moves to hybrid model

St. Vrain Valley Schools Education Foundation's annual gala fundraiser takes a hybrid approach to make it accessible to all.
Matt Maenpaa
Matt Maenpaa

This year’s Gala fundraiser for the St. Vrain Valley Schools Education Foundation, or SVVSEF, will be a hybrid event, according to SSVVSEF Executive Director Josh Atherton. The in-person gala and auction will be held at the Omni Interlocken Hotel in Broomfield, but those who want to participate in the auction or watch the presentations from home can log in easily.

“This event, the St. Vrain Valley Gala, is our main fundraiser for the foundation and also an opportunity to highlight the amazing programs in the school district,” Atherton said. 

Last year’s gala was completely online, Atherton said, due to COVID restrictions and safety protocols. The move to a hybrid gala was inspired by COVID safety and the additional benefits of an extended reach for the fundraiser. Atherton said the in-person was exciting and important, but SVVSEF wanted to keep options open for community members who want to be involved but don’t feel safe gathering in person or had conflicts that would prohibit them getting to the event. 

The event begins at 5:30 p.m. with a cocktail hour and silent auction, which includes contributions from schools all over the St. Vrain Valley School District. Atherton said more than 50 schools participated in 2020 and the baskets were quite popular, garnering more excitement and bids than many of the other auction items. 

“When people go to our event, they’re all about our school community. They understand what the St. Vrain Valley is all about,” Atherton said. “But the true connection is where their son or daughter goes to school.”

Including the school baskets there will be more than 100 items in the silent auction, Atherton said. Last year was the first time the silent auction was made accessible online to a wider audience and the tradition continues this year. The virtual participants can bid on items in the auction from home with a simple registration to get their unique bidding number.

Proceeds from the auction will fund the SVVSEF and the priority programs within St. Vrain Valley School District, though the two entities are separate. SVVSEF programs like 529 Jump and Crayons to Calculators help support students from low-income families, deliver school supplies and provide resources for higher education opportunities.

Last year’s fully online fundraiser opened up new opportunities, Atherton said. A pre-recorded performance featuring students from all over the St. Vrain Valley accompanied the presentations, a feat that wouldn’t have been possible in-person. The live-streamed event also allowed friends and family around the country to see the student performance and lend support to SVVSEF.

“We see the value in the livestream. Gone are the days when you need a ticket to get in the room,” Atherton said. “Our district is about diversity and making sure everyone has equal opportunities.”

The live-streamed presentation of the event won’t start until 7:30, Atherton said, and will be free for home viewers. The goal is to keep the presentation under an hour and be as entertaining as possible for viewers, according to Atherton.

The St. Vrain Valley Gala is on Saturday, November 6, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Tickets for the in-person gala are $75 and only available until November 2. Registration for the silent auction can be completed by November 6 at 12 p.m. Online participants can watch the presentation through SVVSEF’s YouTube channel.