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.
The Saint Martin’s Gala is the University’s annual black-tie scholarship fundraiser. In 2022, the Gala was in its 16th year, and was the first for Dr. Jennifer Bonds-Raacke as she began her tenure as the 11th president.
“We are grateful to everyone who attended the Saint Martin’s Gala, which was a record-breaking fundraiser that will enable us to offer scholarships to many of our students,” said President Bonds-Raacke. “These scholarships play a major role in helping our students pursue their aspirations, earn their degrees and contribute their talents to our community.”
We welcomed back to campus alumna Tracey Porter ’20, along with her twin brother Tony ’20 and younger sister Nicole ’21, to share her story as our alumni speaker. “Our family knew a college education for the three of us would be beyond our reach, but we received enough scholarships to make our educational dreams a reality,” shared Porter. “I know we were brought to Saint Martin’s for a reason, and I know this university will continue to support students and families just like ours.”
Celebrity Chef Anne Burrell is the hugely popular and fan-favorite host of Worst Cooks in America, Worst Cooks in America: Celebrity Edition and the new Food Network series Vegas Chef Prize Fight. Burrell is an industry veteran and passionate teacher who prides herself on creating rustic Italian dishes that celebrate simple and pure ingredients.
“I am thrilled to have been the chef for this year’s Gala! The love in this room is palpable.” said Burrell. “Thank you everyone who came, who donated, and who made this event so joyful.”
The chairs for the Saint Martin’s Gala are Pat and Helen Rants, Jay and Carla Rudd, and Tedi Reynolds ’71. The emeritus executive Gala chairs are Armandino Batali ’59, HD’16 and Rick HD’20 and Pam Panowicz.
If you were unable to attend the Gala, or would like to make an additional gift, you can still support student scholarships by making a gift online at www.stmartin.edu/giving.
To view photos from the event, visit www.stmartin.edu/gala.
Next year’s Gala will be held on Nov. 4, 2023. The format and celebrity host will be announced in the coming months. For more information, visit www.stmartin.edu/gala.
Thank you to our event sponsors!
|
Abbot's Table Sponsor |
|
|
After Party Sponsor |
|
|
Band Sponsor |
|
|
Broadcast Media Sponsor |
|
|
Celebrity Photo Sponsor |
|
|
Chocolate Sponsor |
|
|
Coffee & Green Room Sponsor |
|
|
Gala Reception Sponsor |
|
|
Hors D' Oeuvre Sponsor |
|
|
Hospitality Sponsor |
|
|
Kitchen Sponsor |
|
|
Live Auction Sponsor |
|
|
Media Sponsor |
|
|
Print Media Sponsor |
|
|
Print Sponsor |
|
|
Presenting Sponsor |
|
|
Raffle Sponsor |
|
|
Specialty Tattoo Sponsor |
|
|
Super Silent Auction and |
|
|
Wine Glass Sponsor |
|
|
Wine Sponsor |
Table Sponsors
St. Martin’s Table Sponsors:
FORMA Construction
Joe HD’21 & Liz Williams
MJR Development
St. Benedict's Table Sponsors:
Armandino Batali ’59, HD’15
John & Michelle Riel
Kathy & Gordon Beecher
Tedi Reynolds ’71/Mark Templeton ’69
The Rants Group
Toni Christy ’04, MBA ’06 / Lashgasms
Waite ’65 & Patty Dalrymple
St. Gertrude's Table Sponsor:
Chris ’80 & Lisa Thomsen
David Slotwinski & Roselyn Marcus
Diamond Technology Innovations / Jernigan Foundation
Evergreen State College
Great Western Supply
Heritage Bank
Heye Family
Kathleen O’Grady
Lemon Family Dental
MultiCare Capital Medical Center
Olympia Orthopaedic Associates
Perry & Susan Shea
Providence Swedish
Puget Sound Energy
Rockefeller Capital Management/Bloom Williams Group
SMACNA
Sousa/Boado
South Sound Behavioral Hospital
Sunset Air, Inc.
Teri Woo, Director of Nursing
Timberland Bank
Tovani Hart
TwinStar Credit Union
U.S. Bank
Virgil Adams Real Estate
Additional Sponsors:
ImageSource, INC
Lucky Eagle Casino & Hotel
South Puget Sound Community College
Squaxin Island Tribe
Moss Adams, LLP
Saint Martin’s University is an independent, four-year, coeducational university located on a wooded campus of more than 300 acres in Lacey, Washington. Established in 1895 by the Catholic Order of Saint Benedict, the University is one of 13 Benedictine colleges and universities in the United States and Canada, and the only one west of the Rocky Mountains. Saint Martin’s University prepares students for successful lives through its 29 majors, 11 master’s programs, one doctorate program, and five certificate programs spanning the liberal arts, business, education, nursing, and engineering. Saint Martin’s welcomes more than 1,300 undergraduate students and 250 graduate students from many ethnic and religious backgrounds to its Lacey campus, and more students to its extended campus located at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
Published