A Rich Tapestry of Attendees Brings New Friends and Award Recipients Together
October 14, 2023. The drizzly morning welcomed prospective and invested gala committee members under the Chinquapin portico with a warm drink and breakfast spread. Led by SFA staff members Albie Dickson and Rosie Wiedemer, introductions were accompanied by remarks made by two 2022 award recipients, Adib Sarkar and Aldo Memisha, both currently attending George Mason University. Adib and Aldo are frequent ambassadors during SFA events, generously sharing their time, talents, and presence numerous times over the past year. Also speaking were Silent Auction Chair Ressa Jones, outlining the plan for this year’s auction including the April 1 cut-off date to receive items, and Kristi Komai, Car Raffle Chair, announcing the approach to selling each and every ticket for the Car Raffle or Cash donated by Alexandria Toyota.
This year’s gala theme was announced simply as “Tapestry,” referring to the art of weaving unique stories and patterns, employing both traditional and modern means, with each cloth using many of the same materials and even cultural symbols, but always resulting in rare, one-of-a-kind tapestries. We look forward to developing this year’s gala with an eye to this rich art form. Our thanks to those able to attend the very first gala committee meeting. It is never too late to get involved, contact SFA about becoming a Gala volunteer.
Gala committee meeting attendees included:
Albie Dickson**
Anna Jaeger*
Ashley Lombardi*
Cas Johnson**
Deborah Schilling
Dorene Pickup
Ella Fitzgerald*
Jasmine Milone**
Karen Burbage
Kellie Souza
Kristi Komai
Maria Matthews
Mary Ritlety-White*
Melissa Logan
Michelle Gleeson**
Paola Gantz*
Ressa Jones
Rosie Wiedemer**
Sara Mikolop*
Sarah Zapolosky**
Stacie Andersen
Tiffany Kernan*
*New Gala Committee prospective member
**Scholarship Fund of Alexandria staff person
The crowd assembled included six new participants and did not include a few familiar faces we anticipate seeing at our next meeting on Tuesday, November 14. The next venue moves from outdoors to indoors and a wonderful warm home will host the second meeting. For details, or to add your name to the Gala Planning Committee—and to join the small legion of people we need to bring the 38th SFA Gala & Auction to life—contact [email protected] or [email protected]
The work is rewarding. We need your input and ideas to make it the best gala yet. Please consider becoming a volunteer.
Scholarships change lives forever, both the giver and the receiver.
