Attend Million Dollar Gala at MGM to support Minnechaug Scholarships

Sept. 26, 2018 | Chris Maza

WILBRAHAM – It’s a milestone that will be celebrated in the grandest of fashions.

Since 1961, the Wilbraham Hampden Scholarship Foundation has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships to Minnechaug Regional High School graduates from Wilbraham and Hampden.

That notable accomplishment will be the theme of the foundation’s premier fundraising event – the Million Dollar Gala on Oct. 12 at the Bellagio Ballroom at MGM Springfield.

“Unlike the pasta dinner, tailgate party, annual raffle and other fundraisers, this is more about celebrating than fundraising,” explained Patty Murphy, co-president of the foundation. “There will be some fundraising, but it is really the Foundation’s opportunity to publically recognize, thank and celebrate our communities and those who have supported us for decades.”

Guests, dressed in cocktail attire, can enjoy a cocktail hour from 6 to 7 p.m., followed by dinner of either fennel thyme chicken, Atlantic salmon or New York strip steak, and a brief program. Murphy also noted the event would allow for plenty of time to explore Springfield’s $900 million casino complex with a $10 coupon, and a cash bar would be offered. Musical entertainment will be provided by the Cantalini Duo.

“We discussed a number of local venues for our celebration. Since this is such a wonderful milestone, we wanted a venue that would be fun and exciting,” Murphy said. “Plus, since we are celebrating this $1 million achievement, the casino seemed like a great fit.”

Tickets can be purchased by contacting foundation members. In addition to Murphy, who leads the foundation cooperatively with Co-President and fellow Wilbraham resident Barbara Trombley, the foundation consists of Kate Belsky, Lynn Diefendorfer, John Drost, Sharon Dufour, Veronica Mendoza, Patty Murphy, Donna Roberts, Maria Savoie, and Mike St. Marie. The organization’s website, www.wilbraham-hampdenscholarshipfoundation.org, also offers an online payment option. While the foundation requests those interested in attending purchase tickets in advance in order to give MGM Springfield’s catering services an adequate head count, last-minute guests would not be turned away.

With the exception of a few operating costs, all of the money collected goes directly to funding the scholarships, explained Murphy.

All told, the foundation has been responsible for 1,678 scholarships for a grand total of $1,042,856. When it was launched in 1961, the foundation awarded four scholarships of $2,000 each. In May of this year, 65 scholarships were handed out totaling $65,876. Now they are setting the bar even higher.

“Depending on the amount of money raised, we will have a new ‘Gala Scholarship’ to award at the Minnechaug Regional High School’s Evening of Recognition in May 2019, in addition to all the other awards presented that night,” Murphy said.

Those looking for more information on the gala or are interested in becoming involved with the foundation may contact them via email at info@Wilbraham-HampdenScholarshipFoundation.org. Murphy stressed the foundation is always in search of new members and added the organization would love to heard from past award-winners.

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