BY JESSICA STEELEY
Clarkston News Staff Writer
Kicking off their Silver Anniversary, Everest Collegiate High School and Academy is celebrating 25 years of excellence with their 25th Gala Auction.
“This is an annual Gala Everest does every year,” Gala Chairperson Lori Skibo said. “It’s our biggest fundraiser, with guest count usually coming in over 300.”
The yearly gala takes several months of planning and preparation. Everest’s Advancement Administrator Mary Williams said they set the date a year in advance, book the venue the previous spring, and sit down and figure out how to put everything into place in the fall.
“We really kick off at the beginning of the year. Right after the holidays is all the heavy lifting,” Skibo said.
The night’s agenda includes a silent auction from 5-7 p.m., with dinner and a live auction kicking off at 7 p.m.
“We have a grand raffle, we have a one-in-25 raffle, where we sell 25 raffle tickets and you have a one in 25 percent chance to win a Florida trip,” Skibo said. “The grand raffle is a $10,000 grand prize and second prize is $3,000 and then third prize is $2,000. We also have the chance to win free tuition in a separate raffle.”
Skibo invites the public to attend the gala and said they’re always looking for sponsorships and donations for the auctions.
Turnout is usually 50 percent of attendees from the Everest community and the other half from the public.
“As we celebrate 25 years this year, we are celebrating our growth as a school,” Williams said. “We have most recently been recognized by the Cardinal Newman Society since 2014 and the U.S. Department of Education since 2016 as a school of excellence.”
The event is at the CenterPoint Marriott in Auburn Hills on Saturday, April 1. Tickets are $150 per person.