Schools
Photos: Alverno's Emerald Evening
The St. Patrick's day-themed gala thrown by Alverno High School is an annual tradition.
On Saturday, March 17, more than 280 members of the Alverno community gathered at the Pasadena Hilton dressed in their St. Patrick’s Day finest to celebrate Annual Gala.
The theme for this year’s event was “An Evening on the Emerald Isle” and guests were treated to an authentic Irish experience.
The evening began with a Silent Auction that included more than 320 items donated by Alverno families and local businesses including: Burger Continental, Casa del Rey, Green Street, In-N-Out Burger, Krikorian Pacific Theatres, Matt Denny’s Ale House and Restaurant, Pasadena Playhouse, and many others. National companies and organizations that made donations included Applebee’s, Dooney & Bourke, Estee Lauder, Fisher Price, and the New York Yankees.
During dinner, guests enjoyed live music by the Moreton Bay String Band as well as an Irish step dancing performance by members of the Cleary School of Irish Dance. A Live Auction was conducted following dinner that included getaways to Cabo San Lucas,Hawaii, and Paso Robles. Additionally, Alverno parents had the opportunity to bid on some highly coveted Alverno prizes for their daughters including special parking, front row tickets to graduation, and the opportunity to be Dean of Students for a day.
A very special part of the Live Auction included the opportunity to become one of the first sponsors of Alverno’s “Adopt-a-Pillar” campaign, which will support the installation of pillars and wrought iron fencing along the Michillinda Avenue side of campus. This campaign is the first step towards the completion of Alverno’s Master Plan.
“The Annual Gala is always such a feel-good event for our entire school community! Our alumnae and past parents return to Alverno, along with our current parents, Board Members, and faculty and staff to provide much-needed support to our school and most importantly, our students,” said Wendy-Finch-Burk, Director of Development and Alumnae Relations at Alverno. “Past funds raised from the Annual Gala have allowed Alverno to purchase air conditioning units for all classrooms, new desks for the entire school, and two 15-passenger vans for school transportation.”
Overall proceeds from this year’s Gala will assist Alverno in repairing the damage done to the campus by the December 2011 windstorms, including damage to the Villa del Sol d’Oro. In addition to the repair projects, the funds will also be used to replace the downed trees and beautify the areas of our campus that were hardest hit by the windstorms.
“Alverno has a tremendous community of parents, alumnae, Board Members, and faculty and staff who provide unwavering support to our school and current students,” said Ann Gillick, Head of School. “In addition to helping to make campus improvements and repair damage caused by the windstorms, funds raised at “An Evening on the Emerald Isle” will help Alverno to continue our mission of empowering each young woman to be exactly the person she wants to be.”