On May 19, Morgan Autism Center celebrated its 11th Annual Starry Starry Night Fundraising Gala at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Palo Alto with over 380 parents, family members, and community supporters. Starry Starry Night is our largest fundraiser of the year and it allows us the opportunity to highlight the artistic talents of those we serve. One-of-a-kind art pieces created by our students and clients through our Art Therapy Program are auctioned off to excited bidders.
Guests at the event also enjoyed fine wines, a raffle, silent auction, a wine pull game, steel drum music by Coconut Hut Entertainment, and a fun heads-or-tails game. After a delicious dinner, guests heard a heartfelt speech by Todd Damrosch, whose cousin, Alex, attends Morgan Autism Center, and enjoyed an exciting Live Auction featuring artwork created by 3 of our Adult Program clients (who even got to participate in the auctioning of their paintings)! The evening concluded with a very successful Fund-a-Need. $101,000 was raised to get air conditioning for our new campus!
This year, we presented the Galaxy Award to our community partners, the 49ers Community Foundation, Corrections Academy 12, Eagle Scouts, First Tech Credit Union, the Loma Prieta Region Porsche Club of America, Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley, and Stantec for transforming our new campus and helping create a beautiful and safe space for our students and clients.
Thank you to everyone who came out to support Starry Starry Night. This year’s gala raised over $310,000 to support our School and Adult Programs, making it our most successful one yet!
We would also like to thank the following sponsors for their incredible support this year: Lane Partners, ASVB, James and Ruth Su, Tomas and Monica Evensen, Kevin and Donna Gott, Wente Vineyards, Onesta Winery, Chris and Linda Ludeman, Dennis and Marie Campoy, Nena Montgomery and Michael Edson, Vilma Kennedy Pallette, John and Mindy Gray, William and Estella Moriarty, Fremont Bank, John M. Sobrato, John Winther, Tech CU, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati Foundation, Ahmed, Ghazala and Mishal Sadiq, Eaton Hall Architecture, Gilfix & La Poll Associates, Heritage Bank, Jack and Patty Balch, Jon and Nicole Moe, Sereno Group, 777 Welch Road Partners, Shire House Inc., Steve and Suzi Gilbert, Rialto Capital Management, Anthony and Tracy Falcocchia, Mark and Helga Devon, Stantec, Terrence and Terry O’Day, Charlene Tuchman, Jay Berkett, Kevin and Theresa Oller, Richard Lopez, Robyn Ayers, Scott and Sharon Hartley, Steven and Christina Wilder, John and Ellen Rothmann, Mike and Kathy Glass, and Dru Berkett.
Additionally, thank you to our many in-kind donors and other supporters. For a complete list, visit us at www.morgancenter.org/donate . Finally, a huge thank you to Franca Cozzitorto, our spectacular Event Chair, our hardworking and dedicated Event Committee, and our incredible staff and community volunteers!
Written by Lisa Lemke
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