Gala Countdown
This year's Gala will take place on Saturday, April 1
from 6-11 pm in the Golden Ballroom at the Denver West Marriott (1717 Denver West Marriott Blvd, Golden, CO 80401). Pre-parties will begin at 4:30 pm and will be hosted by each grade in an Applewood area house.
Get Your Gala Tickets
*Gala ticket sales are now closed.*
To purchase tickets by March 17, go to the PTA's MemberHub site - you will need to input your current password or create a new MemberHub account. This helps keep things secure! If you have any issues accessing the ticket sales, please email Anju at drvish@pragmafamilymedicine.com
The Maple Grove PTA is committed to having all parents attend regardless of their ability to pay for a ticket. If you need assistance with Gala ticket costs, please fill out this confidential scholarship form.
About the Gala
The Gala is the primary fundraising event for Maple Grove Elementary. It's a festive evening for grown-ups featuring full dinner, cocktails, dancing, games, a casino and a silent and live auction. The goal for the 2023 Gala is to raise $100,000 which goes right back to Maple Grove and the Applewood community - where we can continue to create a bright future for all Maple Grove students and their families. This year's Gala theme is "Yacht Rock" which is about the collective energy of a community coming together to steer the ship towards the horizon.
Gala FAQs
All your Gala questions answered in one place!
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If you have questions not listed on this document, let us know! Reach out to Jessie at drjessiemiller@gmail.com
The Year's Biggest Fundraiser
Research shows that when families and communities support schools, kids perform better academically and are happier. Maple Grove Elementary is a public school, and the school does not charge tuition. The staff and administration at Maple Grove work hard, in cost-effective ways, to provide an outstanding and enriching educational experience for your children using the funds provided by Jefferson County.
That being said, every year, there is a gap in the budget between what Maple Grove needs to thrive and what Jeffco can provide. We make up for this budget gap in monetary donations raised by the PTA and the money goes towards staffing support, school programs, community initiatives and creating an enriching environment for learning.
Gala Auction Donations
To make the Gala a success, we need all hands on deck!
The most immediate need is collecting items and experiences for the auction such as:
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sporting equipment
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event tickets
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family-centered activities
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legal, medical and professional services
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vacation home rentals
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professional consultations for home design, landscaping, organization and more.
What kind of special talents do you have to share with the community? The auctions are a great way to showcase your business, goods and skills while supporting Maple Grove. All contributions are greatly appreciated and tax deductible. Please email Anju at drvish@pragmafamilymedicine.com to make a donation for the auction.
Gala Sponsors
If your family or business would like to sponsor this year's Gala, please reach out to Amanda Sheppard at mgpta2020fundraising@gmail.com
What is Yacht Rock?
Yacht Rock is a smooth and lush music style that originated in Southern California and dominated the airwaves from 1974 to 1983. It is a special blend of too much production, over-processed vocals and easy, breezy, bouncy lyrics that don't require deep thought. Popular Yacht Rock artists include: The Doobie Brothers, Player, Bertie Higgins, Christopher Cross, Robbie Dupree, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald, Rupert Holmes, Toto, and Steely Dan. Yacht Rock is meant to invoke people relaxing on a boat. It's cheesy! It's jazzy! It’s a let your hair down and don’t take yourself (or anyone else!) too seriously kind of vibe. it requires nothing but a laid back state of mind. And no, we won't be playing Yacht Rock the ENTIRE night. We'll set the mood with some popular songs, but there will be a lot of other music to dance to and enjoy!
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What Should I Wear?
The key to nailing the classic Yacht Rock outfit is the combination of vintage nautical and classic prep. Think flowy dresses and caftans, wide-brim hats, pantsuits, silk button downs, wide-collared shirts, feathered or windswept hair, hoop earrings, gold buttons, tennis sweaters and polos, white or black sport coats, light color pants, marinière shirts, boat shoes, captain's hats, aviator sunglasses, short shorts, geometric patterns and stripes, stripes, stripes. The intended style for this year's Gala is more casual, but as always please wear anything you are most comfortable in!
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Gala History
The Gala has a storied tradition in the tale of Maple Grove. The event originated fifteen years ago as the "Gala for Grownups" and was conceived as a fundraising and spirit event for parents. Since then, the Gala has grown in size and stature and become the largest fundraiser of the year for Maple Grove. Past themes have included: "Casino Royale," "Havana Nights," "Prom Through the Decades," "Neon/Glow" and "Gatsby." While each Gala event is completely unique, the common focus remains on raising money, letting loose and having a grand time together! For 2023, we have a new large venue and we are opening up the Gala to alumni, neighbors, grandparents, aunts, uncles, colleagues, friends, anyone and everyone so we can continue to grow this amazing community! It's going to be a jolly good time so the more, the merrier!
Gala Committee
Meet the crew! The Gala is made possible by hundreds of hours of volunteer work and we are especially grateful to these Maple Grove parents and staff at the helm:
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Jessie Miller, Co-Chair
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Anju Visweswaraiah, Co-Chair
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Leslie Billingsley
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Sarah Brown
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Cheree Carver
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Lisa Coy
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Lori Hoverter
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Brittany Music
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Sarah Ortega
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Allison Osborn
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Graham Ottley
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Mala Setaram-Wolfe
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Amanda Sheppard
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Dana Sutton
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Kimber Tichota
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Heather Williams
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Julie Zurakowski
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