Lake Travis Education Foundation officials announced Feb. 4 that the foundation will replace its annual gala with a benefit concert celebrating its 40th anniversary, marking a "new approach to fundraising."
The move is in line with a trend of reevaluating traditional galas, which often come with high overhead and no longer guarantee a strong return on investment, LTEF executive director Claire Kinnersley said in a news release.
The details
LTEF's annual gala was originally scheduled for March 6. The event will now be a benefit concert at HCI Sports & Fitness, featuring live music, food trucks, complimentary drinks, interactive elements, student involvement and opportunities to give to LTEF through a silent auction and paddle raise.
Unlike the gala, the event will not feature assigned seating or a dinner program.
“Public education looks very different today than it did four decades ago,” Kinnersley said. "Our responsibility is to steward our community’s generosity wisely, especially at a time when many neighboring districts are closing schools and cutting programs. ... With a lower ticket price and a high-energy atmosphere, we’re able to welcome more people while staying focused on why we’re here."
Per the event page, single general admission tickets are $185, with opportunities to purchase a pair of tickets or a group of eight at a lower cost.
Something to note
The foundation has raised millions of dollars to support LTISD teachers and students since being founded in 1986, officials said in the news release.
LTEF members presented the LTISD board of trustees with a $405,000 check in September after the foundation announced it would begin funding some staff positions, the first initiative of its kind in LTISD.
The foundation hosts a variety of other fundraising events throughout the year, including a women's leadership brunch in May, a golf scramble in the fall and a Thanksgiving 5K and 1-mile race.
