Georgia Museum of Art gala raises more than $300,000

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

This past Saturday, January 26, the Friends of the Georgia Museum of Art hosted the 16th biennial Elegant Salute, the museum’s largest fundraising event, bringing in more than $300,000 in sponsorships and ticket sales. Elegant Salute is a black-tie event that provides critical funding for exhibitions and educational programs.

This year’s Elegant Salute chair was Sarah Peterson, who worked incredibly hard alongside her co-chair Isobel Parker Mills, the rest of their volunteers and museum staff to create a stunning and spectacular evening. The theme was “An Imperial Evening,” inspired by the exhibition “The Reluctant Autocrat: Tsar Nicholas II” and followed by a “From Russia with Love” dance party with DJ Mahogany.

The sponsorship goal for the event was an ambitious $200,000, but fundraising co-chairs Ham Magill, David Matheny and Gordhan Patel managed to increase that amount by nearly 50 percent, to $279,000. Ticket sales brought in the rest of the amount raised.

Epting Events handled catering, with Big City Bread Café, Condor Chocolates, Oconee Events and Terrapin Beer Company supporting the dining experience. Hotel Indigo served as the host venue for the Friday night patrons’ party and the official hotel for the weekend.

Airee Edwards chaired the dance party committee, with assistance from Liz DeMarco, Amy Flurry, Diana Harbour, Elizabeth Katz, Christina LaFontaine and Heather McElroy. Maggie Hancock chaired décor and Ligia Alexander chaired floral, with assistance from Joyce Allen, Lucy Allen, Rinne Allen, Jenny Broadnax, Alice Bulloch, Ann Cabaniss, Freida Clark, Greta Covington, Janyce Dawkins, Betty Alice Fowler, Lucy Gillis, Brett Glenn of European Floral Design, Bree Hayes, Judy Hogan, Lauren Schlesinger, Beverly Sligh, Tony Stringer and Mary Anna Terrell. Mike Landers headed up the entertainment committee, with help from Mark McConnell and Suzi Wong. Bree Hayes was in charge of food, with able assistance by Judy Hogan and Gail Wilfong. Evelyn Dukes chaired logistics, with Lauren Schlesinger and Mary Lillie Watson lending a hand. Last but not least, Devereux Burch was in charge of social, with help from Evelyn Dukes, Anne Hathaway, Sylvia Pannell, Jinx Patel, Tony Stringer and Gail Wilfong.

The museum relies on private donations to continue its efforts in artistic education and outreach in the state of Georgia and beyond.

The full list of sponsors is as follows:

$25,000—Order of St. Andrew
Brenda & Ham Magill
Marilyn & John McMullan
Ibby & Jimmy Mills
Jinx & Gordhan Patel
Brenda & Larry Thompson

$10,000—Order of St. Catherine
Todd Emily
Becky & David Matheny
Kathy B. Prescott & Grady H. Thrasher III  

$7,500—Order of St. Alexander
Carol & Rob Winthrop  

$5,000—Order of St. Anna
Devereux & Dave Burch
Shannon & Peter Candler
Faye Chambers
Judith & Mark Ellis
Epting Events
Diana & Josh Harbour
Mr. C.L. Morehead & Flowers, Inc., Retail
Sarah & Chris Peterson
Piedmont Athens Regional
Tish & Rowland Radford
Peg & Norman Wood  

$2,500—Order of St. George
Mr. & Mrs. B. Heyward Allen Jr.
Jeanne Levie Berry
Susie & Travis Burch
Lisa & Bill Douglas
Hotel Indigo
Sheila & Randall Ott
Dudley Stevens
SunTrust Private Wealth Management  

$1,000—Order of St. Vladimir
Agora Vintage
Valerie Aldridge & Hunter Tison
Ligia & Gus Alexander
Anonymous
Drs. Linda N. & Larry H. Beard
Karen Lynn Benson
Dottie & Dan Blitch
Clay Bryant & Stephanie Nuesse
Lacy Middlebrooks Camp & Thomas Camp
Dr. & Mrs. Victor Crosby
Betty Jo & Andy Currie
Elizabeth & Anthony DeMarco
Betsy & Blair Dorminey
Kathy & David Dorough
Anna Burns Dyer
Karen & Jim Fleece
Teresa & Charlie Friedlander
Kent D. Garbee & Corbett Chandler
Mr. & Mrs. Jim Gillis IV
Anne & Richard Hathaway
Bree & Richard Hayes
Dr. & Mrs. E. VanLandingham Herrin
Jennifer & Gregory Holcomb
John Knowlton & Bob Davis
Elizabeth & Andrew Littlejohn
Virginia Mary Macagnoni
Marjorie & Mark McConnell
Marilyn D. McNeely
Karen & Jim Moncrief
Morgan Stanley
Babe & Carl Mullis
Gloria & Ed Norris
Deborah O’Kain
Drs. Sherrie & Stephen Olejnik
Richard C. Owens
Sylvia Hillyard Pannell & Clifton Pannell
Janet & Alex Patterson
Jan & Edward Perkins
Judy Powell
Amburn & Will Power
Mary & Rick Pummell
Julie & Ira Roth
Ms. Jan Roush
Lauren & Matt Schlesinger
Drs. Shenara & Alonzo Sexton
Robyn & Frank Sims
Margie Spalding
Tony R. Stringer & Alfredo Rodriguez Jr.
Peggy Hoard Suddreth
Synovus
Gloria Ricks Taylor
Terrapin Beer Company
Mary Anna & Johnny Terrell
Cecelia & David Warner
Mary Lillie & Ray Watson
Frances M. Williams