Mach 1 COO, Mary Bell Love, recently co-chaired the 69th Annual Jewel Ball, a black-tie affair put on by the Women’s Symphony League (WSL) of Austin. The Ball was attended by nearly 1,000 guests and raised substantial funds for the Austin Symphony Orchestra.
Galas are a phenomenal way to generate awareness, bring the community together and raise funds for your cause. We sat down with Mary Love to discuss her experience and insight.
1. What were the key objectives or goals you hoped to achieve with the ball?
Make sure it’s a fabulous party that raises significant funds for Austin Symphony Orchestra.
2. Can you walk us through your planning process? How long did it take to organize all of the little (and large) details?
This event is 100% volunteer driven. It took 18 months to plan, and we managed 3 different events: everything from theme and décor to fundraising and reservations. We had over ten committees.
3. What was the inspiration behind the gala and what creative decisions helped tie together the theme?
My co-chair and I both love elegance and drama, and an Art Deco theme with a lot of visuals – like stilt walkers and aerial dancers – had a very high impact.
4. How did you approach securing sponsorships or partnerships for the gala?
Personal outreach is the best way to hit your revenue goals. Along with our volunteers, we spent months securing table sales and donations and finding marketable packages for live and silent auction.
5. What advice would you give to someone planning a similar event?
Prepare for pressure, stay calm and make sure you’re constantly communicating with your teams – and encouraging them.
It’s no surprise volunteers played a significant role in an event of this magnitude. Perhaps one of the first questions you should ask before planning your gala, is do you have the manpower to pull it off.
Congratulations to the Women’s Symphony League (WSL) of Austin on a job well done.
