Dear Friends, 

I'm pleased to report that another successful Starry Night Gala is in the books! And how do we measure success? Well, just ask anyone who attended and they'll tell you that this year was one of the most fun—and most moving—galas in recent memory! 

Of course, we also measure based on our bottom line and I'm proud to report that this year, we've raised more than ever before, with a net of over $37,000! While we are just under our $40,000 goal, that's $37,000 that's being invested right back into Woodland Hills School District through scholarships, grants for teachers, food and hygiene supplies for students in need, free community events and much more. 

And that's all because of you, our friends and supporters who consistently remain devoted to keeping our mission alive. 

Surely our honorees were the highlight of the evening and each one of them, in their own way, represents the good being done in our community and their commitment to our District's well-being.

But it's also because of people like Joanne Abshier, who witnessed first-hand the teaching excellence in our schools the day when she and her grandson first met Melissa Bostard and were so moved that they nominated her more than 7 years later.

It's because of people like Maria Yezovich, whose band Walkin' Rosie not only donated their services as the night's entertainment, but whose business served as one of the evening's top sponsors and whose family showed up as our largest crowd of supporters! 

It's because of those people like Dr. Victoria Mattingly who, while not able to attend in person, still sent a donation to demonstrate her unwavering support; Our photographer, Alyssa Rea who time and time again has donated her services and captured the evening beautifully; Laura Hertrick and The Starry Night Quartet who got the evening started right with their brass ensemble; WTAE's Mike Clark, who masterfully combined the technical details of our script with his own anecdotes and experiences in Woodland Hills School District to make the program truly enjoyable; Marc Rosen who astonishes us with his generosity to our auction year after year; David Chontos who connected us with contacts to make our auction a success; Artists Michael Brucker and Joe Wos who each donated one-of-a-kind art to our auction; Board members like Liz Garlena-Estep who worked tirelessly to not only provide many of this year's auction items but also to make it one of the most beautiful we've seen; Kathleen Good who—without fail—always outdoes herself with beautiful table settings and decor. 

The list goes on and on.

And absolutely none of this would be possible without our sponsors, ticket buyers and journal ad purchasers. You are the lifeblood of our organization and we stand on your shoulders.

So thank you, all of you. 

And if you haven't done so already and you happen to see Jon Olszewski, Lynn Banaszak or Melissa Bostard, give them a congratulations AND a thank you. We honor them for the work they do to honor our school district.

Sincerely,

Timothy Cummings
Board President

Your gift of $10 a month will cover the cost of a backpack for 1+ student for the entire year!

This year's gala included a display showcasing our Backpacks of Hope program, which provides six weekend meals to 70-100 Woodland Hills students with food insecurities every week during the school year. The display included a sampling of items typically included in one backpack:  2 breakfast options (cereal or oatmeal); 3 entrees(mac n cheese, soup, etc); 1 granola bar; 1 Poptart; 1 fruit; and 1 snack. The cost for one backpack is around just $2.00. Guests were asked to donate $80 to cover backpacks for one student for the entire school year. We are proud to report that 12 guests made a combined gift of $1,040, helping to ensure that the program can continue into the next school year! 

This year's Student Art Contest was a huge hit, with a record number of bids placed on each piece. Not to be outdone, Principal Shelly Manns placed the winning bid on EACH work of art!

Congratulations again to Taniah Darwin, Grade 9, First Place; Cameron Patalsky, Grade 10, Second Place and Cameryn McDaniel, Grade 10, Third Place. They will each receive $50 PLUS 10% of the winning bid!