By Terri Cunningham, Former NCCOA Board President
It was 2004, and Nassau County Council on Aging was about to embark on an exciting but daunting new adventure—the Era of the Gala.
Some background…At the time, NCCOA struggled mightily to find a place on the community stage, eclipsed as it was by other well-known nonprofits. The image of the agency in many people’s minds was “the Meals on Wheels people” or “a collection of nursing homes.” Not only was visibility a struggle, but finances were as well. We needed to devise dynamic, effective plans to mitigate both challenges.
As the newly minted–and rather inexperienced–President of the Board, my primary task was to organize and energize the very willing Board members, then to structure a real fund-raising effort (beyond the “bake sale outside Walmart” and “an afghan raffle in front of Publix,” as suggested by some well-meaning folks). We agreed that a fund-raising gala would be the initial step, but oh my, where to begin?
With zero fundraising resources, this had to be a modest event—say 100 attendees at most—in an appealing venue, incorporating elements new to the local nonprofit scene. We felt that a dinner theater and silent/live auctions would be just the ticket to elevate the Gala experience in our community. But where? Enter the generous owners of the Palace Saloon, the Sheffield family, who offered the dining room next to the Saloon. So, our first-ever COA Fundraising Gala was in a saloon! Why not?
Our program included a one-act play suggested by Ron Kurtz, I’m Herbert, a charming vignette with a simple setting—two older adults in rocking chairs on a porch teasing (joking) about whose memory was worse. A Board member took on auctioneer duties (we didn’t yet know about Aaron Bean’s superior auctioneering skills), and we were underway.
Now to prevail upon generous, supportive friends for the accoutrements. We were blessed with talented, willing people who volunteered to design and print programs and tickets, create promotional materials, and canvass the community businesses and merchants convincing them to donate to our live and silent auctions. Board members created centerpieces for the tables, tied programs with ribbons and set up a theater-like atmosphere in the Palace Dining Room (which luckily included a stage).
We were so fortunate that our first Gala was sold out, and the evening progressed without a hitch. Guests loved the chicken dinner beautifully prepared by the Palace kitchen; I’m Herbert humorously entertained the crowd; and people responded enthusiastically (and generously) to the live and silent auctions. We were over the moon raising more than $13,000 in one evening and hearing many happy comments about new awareness and appreciation of our Council on Aging.
While the Palace Saloon was the perfect venue for our first foray into Gala fundraising, we moved to Walker’s Landing the following year to accommodate more people. In fact, that year we seated almost 200 guests and raised nearly $27,000 to support the programs which serve our treasured seniors. From that point, our annual galas grew in size, creativity, variety and overall appeal; and the community has responded enthusiastically each and every time.
Today, NCCOA is thriving under the leadership of President & CEO Janice Ancrum. We are a major community player in every way: highly regarded, broad awareness enabling us to continue to support the growing number of seniors in Nassau County. We are forever grateful to our citizens and local businesses, with us every step of the way. And, it shows no signs of stopping.
Our next Gala salutes the first 50 years of Nassau County Council on Aging making a difference for seniors in our community. Please join us on Saturday, January 20, 2024, at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. It’s sure to be another night to remember. Not in our wildest 2004 dreams could we have imagined…