Watch for updates on the 20th Annual St. Cecilia Gala!
It will be a fun night of faith, fellowship, and fundraising for our wonderful St. Cecilia Community.
Schedule of Events:
5:30 PM Check-in, Social Hour and Silent Auction
7:00 PM Opening Prayer, Dinner & Awards
8:00 PM Live Auction, Games & Raffles
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Silent Auction
Our Silent Auctions offers curated baskets from generous donors along with unique and exciting items from local businesses and area attractions.
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Live Auction
The Live Auction features one-of-a-kind items along with unique and exciting opportunities and trips.
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Fund A Need
Our Fund A Need project offers our donors the chance to contribute directly to a very immediate need of the St. Cecilia community. Our 2024 project will be revealed the evening of the Gala.
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Classroom Art Projects
A treasured part of our gala event, each class works together under the direction of parent coordinators to create wonderful and unique art projects for the auction. The students love creating these treasured pieces as a thank you to all our donors.
Gala Through The Years
2006
Gala was established in 2006 and raised $116,000 in it’s first year. Funds provided for security and surveillance system for the front entrance of the school, computer hardware, science textbooks, religious education materials, and playground equipment. Founding members of the Gala Committee were Jerry and Amy Frankl, Craig and Debbie Grandgenette and Joel and Michelle Thilges. The Distinguished Alumnus Award was given to Michael Vaclav. The Honorary Alumna Award was given to Shari Hammer.
2007
In it’s second year, Gala raised $115,000. Funds were used for youth ministry programs, technology enhancements, and facility renovations for classroom expansion. The committee co-chairs for the event were Jerry and Amy Frankl, Craig and Debbie Grandgenette and Joel and Michelle Thilges. The Distinguished Alumna Award was given to Michelle Thilges. The honorary Alumnus Award was given to John Kleinschmidt.
2008
The 3rd Annual Gala raised $193,000 to provide a public address system, lunch tables, carpet, and a contingency fund for the school. Fund-A-Need raised $48,000 for numerous technology upgrades for the school and classrooms. The committee co-chairs for the event were Darryl and Jody Bennett, Chris and Jennifer Masini and David and Diane Suntken. The Outstanding Volunteer Award was given to Todd & Johna Clancy. The Honorary Alumnus Award was given to William Burke.
2009
The 4th Annual Gala raised $163,000. Funds provided for new carpet and tile installation, textbooks, instructional materials, and playground fencing. Fund-A-Needs raised $32,500 which was used for playground equipment and prayer garden improvements. The committee co-chairs for the event were Darryl and Jody Bennett, Pete Goche and M. Monica Gillen and Ty and Kelly Stewart. The Outstanding Volunteer Award was given to Priscilla & Richard Matt. The Honorary Alumnus Award was given to Duane Siepker.
2010
The 5th Annual Gala raised $127,000 and $23,000 for Fund-A-Need. Funds provided for scholarships for Religious Education, youth ministry teaching materials and a class trip for the Saint Cecilia Fifth Grade Class to the Grotto of the Redemption. The committee co-chairs for the event were Pete Goche and M. Monica Gillen, Ty and Kelly Stewart and Jason and Jennifer Mortimer. The Outstanding Volunteer Award was given to Scott Walker. The Honorary Alumnus Award was given to Fr. Dismas Veeneman.
2011
The 6th Annual Gala raised $118,000 and $33,000 was raised for Fund-A-Need. Funds were used for technology needs in the church and school. The committee co-chairs for the event were Darryl and Jody Bennett, Ty and Kelly Stewart and Jason and Jennifer Mortimer. The Outstanding Volunteer Award was given to John and Carol Nelson. The Honorary Alumni Award was given to Joel and Michelle Thilges, Craig and Debbie Grandgennett and Jerry and Amy Frankl.
2012
The 7th Annuals Gala raised over $120,000 and Fund-A-Need raised $32,000. Funds provided for new school textbooks, materials for preschool, and bibles and workbooks for educational ministry programs. The committee co-chairs for the event were Matt and Jessica Loecke, Nate and Lezli Pelzer and Troy and Lisa Weary. The Outstanding Volunteer Award was given to Diana and Matt Thatcher. The Honorary Alumni Award was given to Jodi and Darryl Bennett.
2013
The 8th Annual Gala raised over $125,000 and Fund-A-Need raised $39,000. Funds provided for new desks, tables, chairs, storage, and document readers in the school. The committee co-chairs for the event were Matt and Jessica Loecke, Nate and Lezli Pelzer and Troy and Lisa Weary. The Outstanding Volunteer Award was given to Jenni Sillman, Susan Vernon and Pat and Mindy Stahr . The Honorary Alumni Award was given to John Kinley and Tom Budnik .
In just 8 years, Gala raised over $1 million dollars for St. Cecilia’s educational and faith formation ministries.
2014
The 9th Annual Gala raised over $130,000 and Fund-A-Need raised $30,000. Funds were used to update the Christian Peterson, “Madonna of the Schools” statue, building wi-fi, social hall projector, art supplies and new comprehensive reading program. The committee co-chairs for the event were Nate and Lezlie Pelzer, Pat and Mindy Stahr and Matt and Diana Thatcher. The Outstanding Volunteer Award was given to Francine White. The Honorary Alumni Award was given to art teacher, Lisa Teske.
2015
The 10th Annual Gala raised $124,000 and Fund-A-Need over $32,000. Funds were used for a new math curriculum, books to be distributed to the parish, children’s liturgy cart, a new stereo for youth ministry, and funds for a Catholic speaker. The Endowment Fund was also the recipient of two very generous estate gifts: Jim McDonald's estate left a gift of $211,000 and Irene Klingseis and her husband Paul left a gift of $150,000. The committee co-chairs for the event were Craig and Nancy Fink, Pat and Mindy Stahr and Matt and Diana Thatcher. The Outstanding Volunteer Award was given to Terri and Tim Simodynes and Honorary Alumni Award was given to Lois Vidimos.
2016
The 11th Annual Gala raised $137,000 Fund-a-Need raised over $38,000. Funds were used to build a preschool playground, parish prayer books for Advent and Lent and to add a Catechesis of the Good Shepherd room. The committee co-chairs for the event were Craig and Nancy Fink, Amy and Rod Jones and Katie and Greg White. The Outstanding Volunteers Award was given to Jessica and Matt Loecke. The Honorary Alumnus Award was given to beloved teacher, Susan Campbell.
2017
The 12th Annual Gala raised over $140,000 and Fund-a-Need raised over $38,000. Funds were used to purchase new Chromebooks, replace ceiling tiles, update the prayer garden and parish Advent and Lenten prayer books. The committee co-chairs for the event were Amy and Rod Jones, Katie and Greg White, Mike and Mary Cowan and Jason and Julie Crimmins. The Outstanding Volunteer Award was given to Ted Millen. The Honorary Alumni Award was given to Jason and Susan O'Brien.
2018
The 13th Annual Gala raised over $133,000 and Fund-a-Need raised over $35,000. Funds provided for the renovation of the main school bathrooms located adjacent to the gym and parish Advent and Lenten prayer books. The committee co-chairs for the event were Mike and Mary Cowan, Jason and Julie Crimmins, Katie and Todd Tjaden and Jarod and Angela Carl. The Outstanding Volunteer Award was given to Tiffany Walker. The Honorary Alumni Award was given to Mark & Margy Hanson.
2019
The 14th Annual Gala raised over $136,000. The committee co-chairs for the event were Katie and Todd Tjaden, Jarod and Angela Carl, Jaime and Matt Wandling and John and Kelly Odenweller. The Outstanding Volunteer Award was given to Sarah Kaspar. The Honorary Alumni Award was given to Jason and Jennifer Mortimer and Peg Stowell.
2020
The 15th Annual Gala was converted to a golf outing due to the ongoing worldwide coronavirus pandemic. The committee co-chairs for the event were John and Kelly Odenweller, Ron and Jean Kaptur and Don and Meredith Wulf. All of the funds raised during this smaller event were used to update the security system on the entire St. Cecilia campus.
2021
Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the 16th Annual Gala was converted again to a golf outing. The 2nd Annual Golf Event raised . Fund-A-Need funds were again used to finance upgrades to the St. Cecilia campus security system. The committee co-chairs for the event were Ron and Jean Kaptur, Jon and Stacy Ryan, Jenny and Erik Lawrence and Calleen and Tyler Jensen.
2022
The 17th Annual Gala raised over $72,000. Funds provided for updated signage on the school building and a new digital sign for both the church and school. The committee co-chairs for the event were Calleen and Tyler Jensen, Kerry and Alan Foster, Jenny and Eric Lawrence, and Jean Kaptur. The Outstanding Volunteer Award was given to Nate and Lezli Pelzer and Jarod and Angela Carl. The Honorary Alumni Award was given to longtime preschool volunteer Karen Burianek.
2023
The 18th Annual Gala, “Seas the Day” was held on April 29th, 2023 at Gateway Hotel. We continued to raise funds for updated signage and as well as a projector for the multi-purpose room. The event raised nearly $65,000. Committee co-chairs were Kerry and Alan Foster, Jenny and Eric Lawrence, Jamie and Jeff Seehusen and Kathleen Pelzer. The Outstanding Volunteer Award went to Tim and Barbara Read and Virginia “Ginny” Coady. The Honorary Alumni Award was given to longtime teacher Sara Markley.
2024
The 19th Annual Gala, Moonlight Masquerade, was held on April 13th, 2024 at Iowa State’s Alumni Hall. The Gala raised over $60,000. Funds contributed to the purchase of a new school-wide literacy curriculum. Dana Logan and Ginny Coady were the co-chairs while Jenny Lawrence (Treasurer), Kerry Foster (Sponsorship) and Ashley Sherman (Interior Design) assisted. The Outstanding Volunteer Award(s) went to Tanya Indelicato-Clausen and Sara Leto. Honorary Alumni Awards were presented to Judi Blum, Jennifer Sillman and Michele Hand.
2025
We are looking forward to the 20th Annual St. Cecilia Gala on March 29th, 2025 at Iowa State’s Alumni Hall. Stay tuned for updates.
Join the Gala Committee
There are plenty of opportunities to get involved with the St. Cecilia Gala. Are you interested in joining our committee or volunteering in some way? Send us an email and we will help you find a way to get involved.