Santa Margarita Catholic Raises $210K in Inaugural Blue and Gold Gala

From the press release:

The Santa Margarita Catholic High School community recently came together for a celebratory evening in support of the school and students at the inaugural SMCHS Blue and Gold event.

This year’s Blue and Gold “An Evening Under the Stars” fundraiser was held on campus in the Strader Grotto and Moiso Family Pavilion (gymnasium). This is the first time the school’s annual benefit gala has been on campus.

The celebratory evening brought in an estimated $210,000 for the school with $112,950 of that total specifically designated for tuition assistance. Through the fund-a-student portion of the auction, guests raised their bidder cards giving the gift of a Santa Margarita education through contributions to the school’s tuition assistance fund. One of every five students depends on tuition assistance to attend the school. In addition to tuition assistance, proceeds from Blue and Gold benefit the school’s arts, academics and athletic programs while enhancing educational opportunities for all students. The Oct. 18 event was attended by 563 Eagle parents, grandparents, graduates, faculty, staff and friends.

Upon valeting their car, guests were provided with a warm welcome by student leaders in uniform who then escorted attendees to have their photo taken with the Eagle mascot. The SMCHS steel drum band, as well as the school’s string quartet, provided entertainment during arrival and check-in.

Santa Margarita supporters socialized, enjoyed tray-passed appetizers and drinks, and bid on an array of unique silent auction items before entering the Moiso Family Pavilion which was dressed up like it’s never been before. The gymnasium was completely transformed into an elegant ballroom aglow in blue and complete with stunning white ceiling drapery studded with white twinkle lights, floor to ceiling drapes, illuminated chandeliers hanging in the center of the pavilion as well as wall-to-wall black flooring and a white dance floor gleaming with lit up stars which also were projected on the walls.

President Andy Sulick and Principal Ray Dunne thanked those in attendance for their generosity including a special thank you to the event’s sponsors and underwriters as well as event chairs Ann Marie Jennison and Amy Cramer of Ladera Ranch and the entire Blue and Gold Committee, which included about 80 dedicated volunteers.

“Many have come together in love to make this evening possible,” said Principal Ray Dunne. “We are here tonight because of our Lord. He has blessed the Santa Margarita community and it is truly His school. Tonight’s event is a wonderful celebration of our students, school and each and every one of you who have all come together to make this evening a success.”

President Sulick commented that the evening was about community building, having fun and supporting the incredibly talented Santa Margarita student body.

“I am humbled by your generosity,” he told those in attendance. “The heart and soul of Santa Margarita is our community. Thank you to each and every one of you who all work to help our students become the best versions of themselves. Whether it be through time, talent or treasure your support allows Santa Margarita to offer excellence in Catholic education, an innovative place to learn and a community where Caritas Christi (the love of Christ) is at the heart of everything we do. All of this tonight is for your children.”

Cramer and Jennison said they wanted to hold the event on campus as it was born out of pride and love for the school.

“It seems appropriate that we would celebrate together on the site of our beautiful campus which is special to all of us,” Cramer said. “We are blessed to be the beneficiaries of some incredible visionaries, including the Moiso and Strader families, who believed in the future of SMCHS and generously helped the school become what it is today.”

The overwhelming outpouring of support and the generous spirit of giving were essential to the success of the event, Cramer and Jennison said.

“We have all played a role in the success of our students’ lives,” Jennison said. “One thing is for certain…the SMCHS community is a giant family that shares the common thread of pride, faith and the charism of Caritas Christi.”

Partygoers enjoyed a three-course meal starting with a pear and endive salad adorned with cabernet poached pears, toasted walnuts with a thin wedge of blue cheese and served with a vanilla shallot vinaigrette followed by peppercorn grilled hanger steak served with garlic whipped potatoes and a cabernet demi glaze accompanied by lemon garlic grilled prawns and ratatouille vegetables. A “blue and gold themed” dessert of vanilla bean panna cotta, topped with fresh blueberries and served with a mini orange biscotti dipped in chocolate, provided a sweet ending.

Must-have silent and live auction items had guests bidding feverishly. Party favorites included getaways to Maui, the Disney Aulani on Oahu, Puerta Vallarta, Las Vegas, Monarch Beach, Palm Desert and San Francisco; sports tickets and memorabilia; fine jewelry including a limited edition Michele watch hand-set with 440 diamonds; designer handbags; a fishing excursion; wine pairing dinners at Orange County’s finest restaurants including a chef’s tasting dinner for eight at Selanne’s Steak Tavern complete with transportation for four couples provided by Your Car Our Driver and a personal meet and greet with the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics MVP Teemu Selanne; a vintage wine collection; and “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunities such as access to an exclusive car museum and dinner for 12 in the Preserve Dining Room at the Coto de Caza Golf and Racquet Club.

Other highlights of the evening included the opportunity to win a trip to Palm Desert by putting a golf ball in the “Eagle Golf Challenge” game, spinning the “Wheel of Blessings” for a chance to win a trip to Las Vegas with show tickets among other prizes, taking home a premium bottle of wine in the “wine pull” as well as unwrapping a surprise gift card and student nonuniform dress pass in the hidden treasures boxes.

During dinner, Santa Margarita graduate Chloe Manese, class of 2009, asked guests in attendance to provide the gift of a Santa Margarita education to students who might not otherwise have the opportunity to attend Santa Margarita. Manese attributes her strong faith foundation and the success she achieved at the University of San Diego, and now in her career as an event planner, to the education she received at Santa Margarita, made possible through tuition assistance.

“I got to where I am today because someone believed,” she said. “You are investing in a community rooted in faith and kindness. You are investing in people like me who have nothing but gratitude.”

President Andy Sulick, a member of the school’s charter class, echoed those sentiments saying he too was the recipient of tuition assistance at Santa Margarita with a father who served in the military and a mother who was a Catholic school teacher.

“An SM education is a game changer,” he said. “You are looking at someone who benefitted from tuition assistance. We are blessed to be at one of the best Catholic high schools in the county. Let’s make the dream of an SM education a reality tonight and continue to transform lives.”

Attendees did just that with four people immediately giving a full year’s tuition followed by scores of others agreeing to support the worthy cause.

The evening closed with guests dancing the night away and enjoying the post grotto lounge in the Strader Grotto, which was transformed during dinner to include relaxing furniture for quiet conversation under the stars while nibbling on sweet treats from Nothing Bundt Cakes and enjoying the coffee bar.

SMCHS Blue and Gold Sponsors

Soaring Eagle Sponsor

The Billups Family/Cable Family Foundation

St. Joseph Health - Mission Hospital

O’Connell Landscape Maintenance

Shulman Hodges & Bastian LLP

We Believe Sponsor

The Andrews Family Foundation

Audi Mission Viejo

Infiniti of Mission Viejo

The Jankovich Family

The Martinez Family