Gala In Graceada

An Evening To Enjoy

This year, we had to innovate Gala in Graceada to stay compliant to current health and safety restrictions. Due to COVID-19, we are not allowed to hold a large public gathering. Determined to keep the party alive, the GiG board developed a way to have fun and most importantly, stay safe during these unknown times… and that’s how “Gala to Go” was created.

General Mission Statement:

Gala in Graceada is Modesto’s premier summer kickoff event! It is a celebration of public space in the heart of downtown Modesto. As a City of Great Neighbors, we invite you to join a night of good food, fun and friends, followed by some fine tunes to define the night.

The proceeds from this annual event will be put towards neighborhood park improvements and summer programming in Graceada and Enslen Parks. More project and programming details to follow.

Gala in Graceada is an event hosted by the College Area Neighborhood Alliance, which is a non-profit 501c3. Your generous contributions to the event may be tax-deductible. This is a 21 and over event.


A Letter from the Gala Chair

July 12th, 2020

Dear Friends of the Park:

Let’s reflect on the good that has happened in Graceada and Enslen parks over the past year. We launched a sold-out, black-tie, gala extravaganza, provided summer-long, complimentary park programming called Sundays in Graceada, and constructed a brand-new community plaza and playground in Enslen park – and that was just 2019.

The beginning of 2020 we were amped up for an even larger, grandiose event - Gala in Graceada 2020 -that was to be this past May. We were teamed up with both the City of Modesto to celebrate Modesto’s sesquicentennial and also MoBand to honor and improve Mancini Bowl, one of Modesto’s beloved landmarks. When COVID-19 hit, we had to push pause, delay the event until this fall, and re-group.

As weeks and months passed we realized we could not safely offer the same large scale event – even in October. We were inspired by the innovativeness of Modesto’s business community.In particular, the restaurants that started modifying their business models to offer delivery and curbside service. And ta-da, a lightbulb moment where we realized we could re-tool the entire event to offer Modestans : Gala to Go!

Gala to Go is our response to COVID-19. We will have “single person” and “two person” picnic baskets stuffed with all of the goodies needed to enjoy an elegant meal outdoors, at home, or wherever our guest would like to ‘gala’. We will have curbside pick-up on Saturday, October 17th at Graceada Park, near Mancini Bowl.

We also wanted to be sensitive to those who may not even be comfortable leaving their homes. Therefore, we are offering delivery service on an alternate date Friday, October 2nd. This option provides those who would like to ‘gala’ but cannot make the October 17th date.

As the event approaches, we will make sure to abide by the most current guidelines provided for food quality and safety.

Proceeds from the gala will go to Graceada & Enslen parks. A stellar silent auction will be online. We also accept standard donations and will provide receipts for the generosity.

Basket sales have already gone live. Gala baskets are in limited supply, please make sure to reserve yours today by going to our website: www.galaingraceada.com.

A very special thank you to Ann Endsley and her amazing staff at Greens on 10th, Gather, and Willow Floral Design. They are Community Champions for making this whole thing possible.  Last year’s projects could not have been completed without the partnership and support of Boyett Petroleum, Valero Energies, Beard Family Companies, Simile Construction, Colin’s Electric, Stuart McClanahan Construction and Modesto’s Park, Recreation, and Neighborhoods Department. And the warmest, hugest thank you to all of our 2019 sponsors (please see website for list) and all of you that believed in this event and purchased the inaugural tickets for last year’s gala.

I also want to acknowledge my amazing Gala in Graceada/ Gala to Go Board: Twainhart Hill, Jessica Ringer Schardt, Brian Schardt, Angelina Flores Patterson, Nancy Simas, Stacy Soderstrom, TJ Scherer, and Katie & Jake Barber. Everyone on this board takes time away from their families and work to give to this event and the subsequent projects. No one is compensated. Every dollar that is and has been given towards Gala in Graceada and Gala to Go will be and has been used for park improvements.

Here’s to what’s been and what will be- Cheers!

Sincerely,

Julie Ringer Scherer, Chair & Founder of Gala in Graceada

 Gala to Go Committee

Julie Ringer Scherer- Chair

Twainhart Hill – Co- Chair & Treasurer

Angelina Flores Patterson – Sponsorship Chair

Jessica Ringer Schardt – Design Chair

Katie Barber – Auction Chair

Stacy Soderstrom – Auction Co-Chair

Nancy Simas – Historical Chair

Jake Barber – Master of Ceremony

TJ Scherer – Finance Chair

Brian Schardt – Volunteer Chair & Programming Coordinator

ABOUT CANA

A Strategic Plan for 2010-2013 was adopted by the Modesto City Council as the guiding document for the City of Modesto on September 28, 2010. One of the initiatives stated in the section titled Community & Partnerships was to build and promote partnerships that engage neighborhoods and create a sense of community.

A Steering committee came together in 2010 to form the College Area Neighborhood Alliance to focus on enriching the neighborhood by taking action to solve issues and making it a better place to live for all. It is founded on community involvement and is not a political group. Anyone who lives or owns property within the boundary of CANA can participate in the neighborhood activities and events.

History of Graceada park

Original icons of Modesto, Graceada and Enslen Parks date back to 1907. Since the Great Recession, many of the park's beloved treasures have fallen to disrepair. In 2018, Graceada Park began to shine again with the renovations of the Graceada Park Pool, Splash Pad and Tot Lot Playground Reconstruction Projects, each project was a community-lead effort. To continue in this generosity, a group of local activists and community leaders have come together to host a beautiful evening in Graceada Park. Join us in this celebration to rediscover the love of Modesto and share the joy of this unique community and its historic park spaces.