12th Annual Community Gala Celebrates the Seasons

Nearly 200 people attended the 12th annual Community Gala on Saturday, Sept. 23, at the Curling Center at the Ozaukee County Fairgrounds, raising thousands of dollars to support the Greater Cedarburg Foundation’s mission to enhance the quality of life in the greater Cedarburg community through private funding.

Colorful table decorations reflected the theme of the Gala: “Cedarburg’s Legacy: Celebrate the Seasons.” The Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts loaned the GCF a number of beautifully crafted quilts that hung on the walls.

The event included entertainment by the Cedarburg Civic Band and keyboardist Gary Haseley, a cocktail hour, an elegant buffet dinner catered by Out & Out and an auction featuring original artwork from two well-known local artists: Mary Ellen Mueller and Susan Hale.

Other verbal auction items included a Summer Sounds party for 12, two tickets to the musical “Hamilton” in Chicago donated by Mark and Mary Jane Baumgartner, a French Forks dinner workshop and wine tasting, a 30” by 40” enlargement from the Harold Dobberpuhl photo collection donated by Steve and Pat Thome, a wine and food tasting from Piggly Wiggly and a golf outing for four at Ozaukee Country Club. More than 40 other items were included in a silent auction including a rocking chair from Amish Craftsmen Guild, an outdoor propane heater from Boehlke Bottled Gas and two tickets to the Packers / Bears game donated by Richard and Barbara Janssen

Joe Fazio, GCF board president, was extremely pleased with the results of the Gala. “For this evening to be the success it is requires many people to plan every detail,” he said, and praised sponsors, volunteers and a “committed” board of directors for their “great effort.”

The presenting sponsor of the Gala was PyraMax Bank. Signature sponsors were BMO Harris Bank, Commerce State Bank, Partnership Bank, Port Washington State Bank and Answerport. Patron sponsors included Bank Mutual, Husch Blackwell, Levy and Levy Attorneys at Law, Michael Best & Friedrich, Olsen’s Piggly Wiggly, Pioneer Pet and Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren Attorneys at Law.

The funds raised at the Gala are used to grow the GCF endowment fund and provide grants to non-profit organizations for special programs and projects.