A Masquerade with Montessori Center School

The Montessori Center School held its annual formal gala with a Masquerade Ball theme on Friday evening, February 7, at the Rosewood Miramar Beach.

The elegant event offered a champagne and cocktail reception with 80 Silent Auction items focused on experiences of health, travel, wine, and hobbies. There was a sit-down dinner and open bar, and masks were made available for the maskless. Guests were welcomed with a photo op area on check-in, and by 30 dance team members of the La Boheme Dance Group with their leader Teresa Kuskey. DJ Gavin Roy Productions got the crowd moving with an afterparty featuring dancing, cocktails, and casino tables. Truly a great night out for the parents.

The gala was headed by Event Chair Kacy Cristofani,primary head teacher of the silver door class. Her Gala Planning Committee members were Ariana Arcenas-Utley, Ingrid Vogelgesang, Jill Allstadt, Heather Van Buren, Kristin Khuri, Tara Penke, Catalina Grana, Bobby Georges, Vanessa Jackson, Lisa Lavora-De Beule, Kim Malloy, Jennifer Montague, Esther Jolalpa, and Kim Yeoman.

Delighted attendees numbered over 235, and included parents and grandparents of students, as well as those who still support the school after their children have graduated. Also attending were Board of Trustees Amy MacLeod (president), Brandi Redman (vice president), Christina Jones (treasurer), Royce Borgeson (secretary), Caroline Fisher (trustee), Raine Hahn (trustee), Aniko Kim (trustee), Sachin Lad (trustee), Pam Powers (trustee), and Dasha Russ (trustee), plus Head of School Vanessa Jackson with approximately 45 “staffulty” and their significant others.

The program commenced with welcomes and introductions by the auctioneer and emcee, former student’s parent Timothy Morton-Smith. He started the fundraising with the Heads/Tails game that garnished $20,000, and proceeded to the live auction items, which traditionally are artworks by the students, vacations, two front of the school parking places, and this year a formal family portrait painted by artist Pedro de la Cruz.

Morton-Smith acknowledged Jen Slemp, a parent who donated $50,000 to the school last year. The live auction and a paddle raise provided an additional $228,450. The school was on its way to a most generous evening in support of the school’s many programs, this outing said to be their highest grossing gala at $350,000.

Top sponsors were UltraAnalog® Corporation, and The Fisher Family.

411: https://mcssb.org/