Douglas County Education Foundation

Serving the Douglas County School System Since 1993

Second Annual Superintendent’s Gala On Tap for November 2

This Memorable Party with a Purpose is Expected to be a Sellout!

With the exciting theme of A Hollywood Affair, the Douglas County School System and Douglas County Education Foundation are looking forward to bringing together government, business, community, and school system leaders at the second annual Superintendent’s Gala on November 2. Guests dressed in their best will wave to paparazzi and walk the red carpet as they begin a magical evening of dining, dancing, and networking.

The Gala is a party with a purpose – it’s a major fundraiser for out-of-classroom experiences for students served through Special Education programs. The experiences include vocational training, access to leisure activities, learning to master public transportation, gaining knowledge of community resources, and much more. These important experiences that allow students to gain confidence, independence, and life skills cannot be paid for with district, state, or federal funds.

It is a passion of Superintendent Trent North’s that these experiences are offered to students served through Special Education. “My concern doesn’t end when students with challenges leave our high schools,” said North. “I want them to be happy, independent, productive members of society, and the out-of-classroom experiences help them reach these goals. As long as district, state, and federal funds cannot support these important activities, I will do all I can to fund them with the help of our community.”

GreyStone Power Company is Honorary Chair of the event for the second year in a row. Additional sponsorship opportunities are still available. Contact Portia Lake at [email protected] for more information.

The Gala will be from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at the Douglasville Conference Center. Individual tickets are $100 each. Ticket sales to the general public are expected to open on October 3.

Last year’s inaugural Gala was a sellout, raising tens of thousands of dollars. Part of the proceeds were used to establish an endowment to provide grants to students for generations to come, and part of the proceeds were dispersed to schools that have Special Education classes.

With an elegant event worthy of the Great Gatsby himself, the Douglas County Education Foundation hosted a successful glittering affair that raised supplemental funds for the Special Education Department. More than 400 community leaders, corporate executives, educators, and special education advocates packed the Douglasville Conference Center November 3 to support out of classroom experiences for special education students.

A powerhouse of supporters including State School Superintendent Richard Woods, State Board of Education Member Matthew Krull, Douglas County Board of Education Chair Tracy Rookard and Board Members Devetrion Caldwell, D.T. Jackson, and Michelle Simmons, Douglas County Commission Chair Dr. Romona Jackson Jones, Douglasville Mayor Rochelle Robinson, Douglas County Sheriff Tim Pounds, State Teacher of the Year Allison Kerley Townsend, 2017 Georgia Teacher of the Year Casey Bethel, and Douglas County Teacher of the Year Brittania Wright joined the crowd that participated in the inspirational fundraising gala. Greystone Power Corporation and Southwire served as honorary presenting sponsors of the Superintendent’s Gala. The fabulous event, inspired by the 1920’s classic F. Scott Fitzgerald novel The Great Gatsby, featured fine food, dancing, and a photo opportunity in front of a vintage car.

Superintendent Trent North says the inaugural event’s purpose is to assist the Special Education department with meeting the needs of the community-based programs not covered by local, state, or federal funds. North says, “To succeed at the highest levels, our students need more out of classroom experiences. These experiences build functional independence, provide an additional layer of educational opportunities, and inspire more learning.” Components of the community-based programs that will benefit from the gala’s success include vocational training, job skills taught in workplace settings, celebrations of student achievement, increasing access to leisure activities, and strengthening the district’s Special Olympics program.

Cheryl Handley, Executive Director of Special Education, is thrilled with the event’s success. “The proceeds from the inaugural gala will make a profound impact on the supplemental educational resources we provide our students. With the community’s help, we can continue propelling our special education students toward achieving their highest potential.”

The gala was co-chaired by Douglas County Education Foundation Board Chair Tonya Jackson, marketing director at RA-LIN, and Douglas County School System Director of Community Relations Karen Stroud.

Click here to visit the photo gallery from the evening.

The inaugural Superintendent's Gala is coming up 
on November 3, 2018 and promises to be a memorable evening 
of dining, dancing, and networking with school system,
community, and business leaders. 
This event is a party with a purpose, 
raising money for students 
served by the Special Education Department.

We welcome attendees from the community. 
Click here for an invitation.

Read more about Gala sponsorship opportunities in a letter 
from Superintendent Trent North.

• Vocational Training
• Job Skills Taught in Workplace Settings
• Access to Leisure Activities
• Learning to Access Community Resources
• Enhancing Our Special Olympics Program
• Celebrations of Student Achievement
• Plus Much More!

Sponsorships and ticket purchases should be paid to the Douglas County Education Foundation, the 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization supporting the school system. The mailing address is 9030 Highway 5, Douglasville, GA  30134. For more information, contact Foundation Executive Director Lynn L. Murray at 770-651-2124 or [email protected].