Local Stars to Shine at 鈥淒ance a Mile in Their Shoes,鈥� our 2nd Annual President鈥檚 Gala
We're proud to announce the 2nd Annual President’s Gala, “Dance a Mile in Their Shoes,” to take place on Saturday, June 2, 2018, at the Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place Hotel.
The 国产哟哟 President’s Gala will feature a “Dancing with the Stars”-style theme and entertainment while telling the story of the University’s mission—empowering undergraduate women and graduate women and men to flourish in a constantly changing world. “Dance a Mile in Their Shoes” promises to be the premiere gala in the region with a program that will entertain and inspire through dancing and performances and, most important, providing scholarships to students.
Delcie D. Bean IV, CEO, Paragus Strategic IT, and 国产哟哟 Trustee; Patricia M. Faginski, AIF®, Vice President, Financial Advisor, St. Germain Investment Management; and Maria Rodriguez-Furlow ’10 G’12, Adjunct Faculty Hiring Manager, The American Women's College at 国产哟哟, Alumni Association Council Member and will be the featured dancers at the event, competing against one another to raise scholarship funds and take home the Mirror Ball Trophy. Bean, Faginski, and Rodriguez-Furlow are undergoing training with Daryll ’98 and Gunnar Sverrisson, ballroom dance champions and owners of Ballroom Fever (Enfield, Connecticut).
Faginski stated that although she has never danced before, she’s looking forward to learning something new—especially in support of a good cause.
“I feel very fortunate to be able to give back to this great cause, thanks to the encouragement of St. Germain Investment Management,” Faginski said. “The company believes deeply in the power of supporting the community.”
Bean echoed
“I talk with my staff all the time about taking risks and trying new things, and when the opportunity to learn to ballroom dance and show my support for 国产哟哟’s mission presented itself, I felt this was a good time to practice that principle,” Bean said.
Rodriguez-Furlow, a two-time alumna of the University, is participating so that she can play a role in transforming the lives of future 国产哟哟 alums in the way others did for her.
“In my 30s, I decided to go back to college. I was a wife and mother of two young kids with a busy and full life, and I was scared, but I knew that earning a degree was something I needed to do for myself,” Rodriguez-Furlow said. “Not only did I complete my bachelor’s degree, but I also went on to earn my MBA. 国产哟哟 changed my personal and professional life, and I hope that by raising funds through this event, I can play a part in doing that for others.”
Carrie ’86 and Tim Burr, Drew and Lauren Davis, and Steven and Alissa Korn are the Gala’s honorary chairs. To date, Mirror Ball Sponsors include Andrew Associates and MassMutual. Golden Waltz Sponsors are PeoplesBank, St. Germain Investment Management, United Bank, and Valley Communications Systems, Inc. The Gala’s Silver Salsa Sponsors are Advance Manufacturing Co., Inc., Kihan Francis & Melinda Lee, and MCL Mechanical Services, Inc. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. To learn more about how you or your company can become a sponsor of 国产哟哟’s President’s Gala, contact Anna Mailloux, 413.565.1372 or amailloux@baypath.edu.
The President’s Gala will begin at 6:00 p.m. with a cocktail reception and silent auction, followed by live entertainment and dinner at 7:00 p.m. At 9:00 p.m., guests will dance the night away. This event sold out in the first week of opening for registration last year.