Thirty Years of GALA to be Feted at Sacred Heart Event

The event is taking on a new life and look as it moves from the hills of Flintridge to the luxury of the Millennium Biltmore in Los Angeles.Where else can you have a chance to bid on a week-long internship for a girl in Washington, D.C. in the Honduran embassy learning diplomacy and international relations; an opportunity to have dinner with Nancy and John Sununu, former governor of New Hampshire, chief of staff to George H. W. Bush, and co-host of CNN’s nightly “Crossfire”; and an opportunity to be principal for a day?

Now hitting the 30-year mark, the Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy GALA event, set for Feb. 11, is taking on a new life and a new look as it moves from the FSHA hill to the more accommodating luxury of the Millennium Biltmore in Downtown Los Angeles.

“Thirty years ago, in the beginning, we knew the dinner-dance was dead, so we came up with GALA. Never did we realize how much additional money could be raised,” said Marjorie Illig, one of the 14 original founding “mothers” of GALA, the annual friend-and fund-raising event sponsored by the Mothers’ Guild of Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy. “We had bingo that first year, but that was the only year ¼ it was terribly illegal!”

In the past 29 years, proceeds from GALA have helped meet capital campaign goals for the remodel of the library in 1980 and the building of the new Student Activities Center, provided major upgrades to technology on campus, and initiated the first true endowment fund for the Academy.

“The mothers who work under the guidance of the Mothers’ Guild have added tremendous value to the school, for the students and faculty and in helping the Dominican Sisters further their mission of education,” said Sister Carolyn McCormack, president of the Academy. “Not only have the fund-raising proceeds been helpful for meeting the school’s goals, but the spirit of community built by a large GALA event is immeasurable.”

Co-chairs of this year’s x GALA, Carol McClure (daughter of a ’46 alumna and mother of Melody, ‘08) and Karen Parks (mother of Mallory, ’08 and Allison, ‘02) chose to celebrate the women who founded the event to honor its 30th anniversary year.

“The mothers who started this event were courageous,” said McClure. “An event of this size is very demanding, but it has meant so much to the school.”

Joining Marjorie Illig in founder activities are: Jean Anne Hawley, La Cañada; Suzanne Heidelman, Glendale; Sue Huston, Pasadena; Collette Kellog, San Clemente; Mary Ann Odell, Glendale; and Olivia Trevino, Pasadena.

In the early 1970s, FSHA, like many other private schools, experienced severe financial difficulties to the point where closing the doors seemed the only option. With a five-year reprieve and a mandate to turn the school around, the Sisters, led by two alumnae Sisters -- Ramona Bascom, principal, and Katherine Jean Cowan, vice principal -- called upon parent support groups to help raise some additional revenue for the school.

Thus began an annual golf tournament, sponsored by the Advisory Board and now in its 31st year, and GALA. GALA in its present format replaced the annual dinner-dances held by parents in the lounge of the old hotel building.

“The themes of GALA have touched just about everything,” said Karen Parks. “A rodeo theme, April in Paris, Mardi Gras, Hawaiian holiday, Big-top Circus, horse racing and baseball ¼ Carol and I wanted something elegant and respectful to honor these women who started a tradition that is now such a large part of campus life.”

The evening at the Millennium Biltmore begins at 6 p.m, Feb. 11, with cocktails and hundreds of wonderful silent auction items. A sit-down dinner will be followed by the evening presentations and auction. Phil Daroca will serve as emcee, with auction conducted by Bill Hoffer.

A part of the evening that is unique this year will be the introduction and presentation of the seven women who led the 1976 GALA.

“Fred Purner was the auctioneer in 1976,” recalls Illig, “And when it was all over, and successful, he said, ‘since you now know how to do this you have to keep doing it.’ I chaired GALA three times. It was so much work and so much fun, and has done so much for the school.”

Information and online registration for the event can be found at www.fsha.org, or by calling the GALA office at FSHA: 626-685-8368.

In keeping with the family school tradition of the Academy, three of the founders currently have granddaughters attending: Sue Huston’s granddaughter Kristen Zieman, ‘08; Marjorie Illig’s granddaughter Megan Liebelt, ‘06; and Suzanne Heidelman’s granddaughter Marissa Provenzano, ’09.

This year’s Board includes Glendale residents John A. Davitt and Barbara Goen Nemer.