The 14th Annual ACE Gala EPIC THANK YOU POST
It’s been a couple of weeks since The 14th Annual ACE Gala, and we have had the proper time to reflect on the incredible amount of support we received in order to pull off this event and raise over $65,000 in support of ACE programs and families. We’ve got A LOT of thank you’s to give, so we wanted to dedicate a blog post to do just that.
Zach Combs, Issa Coulibaly, and the entire team at Crocodile River Music were instrumental in helping us to pull off the Gala. Not only did they allow us to use their beautiful studio, they provided much of the video and audio equipment which helped make the virtual event possible.
Zach, Issa, and their fellow bandmates, Balla Kouyaté and Thierno Camara, also brought down the house with their live performance. No one performs West African-inspired live music with the energy and skill of Crocodile River, and we are forever grateful for their partnership.
When we set out to create a virtual event, we wanted it to be more than just another night to sit on a Zoom call. Our friends at Gold Coast Catering, Redemption Rock Brewing, and Sail to Trail WineWorks made that possible by providing at-home food and drinks options for our local guests.
Speaking of Redemption Rock, they also partnered with us to create a custom beer for the event, an African-inspired maize lager with rooibos called BURUDIKA (“cheers” in Swahili)! Local Tanzanian artist Abu Mwenye created the one-of-a-kind can art.
Our incredible co-hosts, Ashley Huntt and Peter Munene brought their amazing energy and passion to the event. Their preparation and performance took the Gala to another level.
Keynote speaker Frederick Joseph not only inspired the audience with his powerful message but also used his platform to highlight the importance of supporting local organizations like ACE. Shanice Robinson went above and beyond in helping to coordinate Fred’s appearance.
ACE alumna Audrey Gypsi shared her personal journey with the audience. Her powerful story of resilience resonated with everyone who heard it and highlighted the importance of the work we do at ACE every day.
The infinitely talented Marianne Sodogandji of Eldior Sodeck Design provided jaw-dropping designs for the highlight of the evening, the ACE Fashion Show.
The WPI Black Student Union partnered with us to put on the show and modeled the way for ACE students, teaching them how to wow the audience on the runway.
Prosperity Candle partnered with us to sell their candles to guests. All of their candles are handmade by refugee artisans in Massachusetts, and their work supports our mutual mission to empower refugees in the state.
We also partnered with Equal Exchange to sell coffee, chocolate, and tea sustainably sourced from various countries in Africa. Their products raise and stabilize the incomes of small-scale farmers around the globe.
Worcester-based On The Rise Baking provided dozens of cupcakes for ACE graduates in order to help them celebrate their amazing accomplishments.
Local businesses The Strength House, The Queen’s Cups, and Redemption Rock Brewing fundraised on our behalf for the event, collectively raising over $6,000 for the event.
Dozens of local businesses, artists, and friends of ACE donated items to make our “on-site” raffle a tremendous success.
Dozens of local businesses and organizations sponsored the event, helping us to raise over $65,000 for ACE programs and families. We owe a special shout out to our Title Sponsor, The Cahn Fund for Social Change, and our ACE Champion Sponsor, Unibank.
Also helping us reach that $65,000 total were over 500 attendees and donors, whose support allows us to continue the work we do at ACE every day.
Lastly, we need to thank ACE volunteers, program staff, families, and students whose collective efforts better the lives of everyone in the ACE community.
Thank you, all, for making this incredible event possible in a year when it was harder to pull off than any other.
