Paradise Island Gala slated for Feb. 27, American Bank Center

Incarnate Word Academy will host its 2016 Paradise Island Gala on Saturday, February 27, at 6 p.m. at the American Bank Center. This marks 145 years since the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament, who will be honored at the event, opened the doors of Incarnate Word Academy in Corpus Christi and became part of the Coastal Bend community.

The fundraising event will benefit the Educational Initiatives Fund which supports critical need-based tuition assistance, enriched academic and athletic programs, professional development and incentives for faculty, facility maintenance and improvements and technology enhancements.

The evening begins with a cocktail reception, followed by five auctions and dinner, and ends with a car raffle drawing for a 2016 Nissan Sentra.

The 62-member committee gathered at the home of Jaime and Courtney Rangel for the annual Gala Kick Off where IWA President and CEO Sammie H. Grunwald shared what makes the event so special and unique.

“Gala is an auction extravaganza,” Grunwald said. “The Gala features a remarkable array of specialty auctions which includes creative packages, fun trips and one of a kind artwork.”

This year’s committee will work under the direction of Gala Co-Chairs Paulette Guajardo and Melanie Villarreal Jennings and Advisory Chair Gloria Hicks.

The committee feels confident that they will meet the challenge of raising net proceeds of $250,000.

General admission is $100, or $1,000 for a table of 10. Sponsorship opportunities include $10,000+ Golden Archangel Sponsor, $5,000 Silver Archangel Sponsor, $3,500 Bronze Archangel Sponsor, $1,500 Archangel Sponsor and individual Sponsorship at $250.

For sponsorship and ticket information or to make an auction donation, visit www.iwacc.org/gala or contact Amy Canterbury at (361) 883-8229, ext. 104 or [email protected].