Crowds of attendees sit at round tables facing the stage, where Chef Anne Burrell does her cooking demonstration on a raised platform.

Gala history

The Saint Martin's Gala is the University's major fundraising event for student scholarships. Over the years, the black tie affair has grown to be the premier culinary event in the South Sound, featuring a live auction, a five-course gourmet dinner and cooking demonstrations by such renowned chefs as Anne Burrell, Jacques Pépin, Carla Hall and Roy Yamaguchi. All proceeds from the Saint Martin's Gala directly support student scholarships.

Chef Anne Burrell smiles and claps her hands on stage

Past Galas

2022 - Chef: Anne Burrell, Alumni speaker: Tracey Porter '20, over $3 million raised
2021 - Chefs: Jacques and Claudine Pépin, Student speaker: Katherine Jamerson ’23, $2.7 million raised
2019 - Chef: Carla Hall, Alumni speaker: Ahmadou Seck ’11, $1.4 million raised
2018 - Chef: Roy Yamaguchi, Alumni speaker: Chantal Arevalo ’17, $1.3 million raised
2017 - Chef: Ming Tsai, Alumni speaker: Sancha Elevado ’12, $1.2 million raised
2016 - Chefs: Andrew Zimmern & Ligia Karazawa, Alumni speakers: Crystal Maria ’13 and Dillon Linhart ’14, $1.2 million raised
2015 - Chef: The CHEW, Student speaker: Deveney De La Cruz ’15, $1.6 million raised
2014 - Chef: Lidia Bastianich, Student speaker: Ben Lopez ’15, $891,000 raised
2013 - Chef: Michael Symon, Student speaker: Dillon Linhart ’14, $960,000 raised
2012 - Chef: Guy Fieri, Student speaker: Crystal Maria ’13, $760,000 raised
2011 - Chef: Mario Batali, Student speaker: Jonathon Hew Len ’12, $608,000 raised

Interested in becoming a Gala sponsor?

We are grateful to the many generous donors and sponsors who help Saint Martin's Gala become the South Sound's fundraising and culinary event of the year!

If you are interested in sponsoring this year's Saint Martin's gala, please contact Renee Oram and roram@stmartin.edu.

Want to see last year's Gala photos?

Gala 2022 photo gallery

Gala success

Saint Martin's University announces three special guests to host Gala 2023

LACEY, Wash. – Saint Martin’s University will host three special guests for the 2023 Saint Martin’s Gala: chefs, Tom Douglas, Thierry Rautureau also known as The Chef in the Hat™ and Italian butcher Dario Cecchini. The Saint Martin’s Gala is the University’s annual major fundraiser for student scholarships, which raised more than $3 million in 2022.

Record-Breaking $3 million Raised for Student Scholarships at the Saint Martin’s Gala with Celebrity Chef Anne Burrell

LACEY, Wash. - A record-breaking $3 million was raised for student scholarships at the annual Saint Martin’s University Gala on November 5. More than 600 alumni and friends came to the Lacey campus to see Celebrity Chef Anne Burrell demo on stage the exquisite Italian five-course, wine-paired menu, along with a lively and generous live auction, and an after party with the Seattle-based band, Mr. Pink.

Questions about Gala?

Office of Institutional Advancement

The mission of the Office of Institutional Advancement is to promote Saint Martin’s University’s cause among its alumni, parents and friends; raise funds in support of Saint Martin’s University’s Benedictine educational mission and its priorities; and build strong relationships between Saint Martin’s and its various constituencies.