At Least 250 People Projected to Attend FCEF Gala

The two women met in July but over the last several months Gabi Sandoz and Donna Englander have developed a working relationship that would take years for some to build.

Sandoz, this year’s chair of the ’s 2012 Spring Gala and Auction said she is excited to help plan the event. New to Falls Church, Sandoz chaired a similar gala for an Alexandria school last year.

“Her energy fuels my intensity and we get a lot done,” said Englander, executive director of the FCEF. “She has brought a lot of great ideas.”

The FCEF will host their eighth annual gala and auction on May 12 in the Venerable International Hall of Flags in the United States Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C. Englander said the hall was appropriate as it represents the diversity of the Falls Church City Public Schools. The gala will feature a black tie cocktail reception, dinner and an auction. Englander said the goal is to raise $120,000 through ticket sales ($125 each), the auction and a series of seven sign up parties.

The sign up parties are new to the FCEF fundraising lineup. For a donation between $25 to $100, gala guests “sign up” to participate in a Cheeseburger in Paradise Party for 70 at Sandoz’s home; a Hot Dinner Party for four featuring “Oh Mercy Hot Sauce” hosted by Mt. Daniel Elementary paraprofessional Mercy Bloomgarden; Wine, Cheese, Chocolate and Charcuterie Tasting for 12 hosted by ; Stained Glass Making Party for eight at Virginia Stained Glass Studio; Night of Fashion and Friends for 12 at the home of Theresa Romer, owner of Signature Style; Euchre Night for 12 card players hosted by Englander and the Antique Road Show Experience for 25 at Quinn’s Auction Galleries hosted by Matt Quinn. Sandoz said the road show includes professional appraisal of one item, appetizers and refreshments.

“He has offered to do appraisals for 30 items,” Sandoz said. “It’s going to be fun to see what people have.”

Last year, funds raised went toward updating the teaching technology at all four FCCPS schools including the purchase of Elmo document cameras at Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School, digital cameras and iPads at and interactive state of- the- art smart boards at Mt. Daniel School and schools. It also provided seed funding for start up of the Pathway to International Baccalaureate Program at Mason.

Several volunteers – including Ari Autor, Jacqueline Bruner, Manuela Costescu, Mikki Ekfelt, Martha Mothershead, Lorraine O’Rourke, Kieran Sharpe, Linda and Jim Valentino – donated hours of time to help plan the gala, Englander said. Sandoz would not say what the budget for the event was but several corporate sponsors, including Alarm.com donated more than $45,000 to help fund the gala.

“It’s a lot of work and we couldn’t do it without all the volunteers,” Sandoz said.

For more information about FCEF or to purchase tickets to the gala, click here.

If you are unable to attend and want to purchase an item from the “Wish List” to feature in the gala auction, click here.