St. Cecilia has provided quality Catholic education programs in the Ames area for over 100 years. Currently, the St. Cecilia School serves over 250 children from preschool to fifth grade and parish programs provide religious education opportunities for over 1700 families. Additional funding is necessary as we seek to provide the finest educational experiences for our children into the future.
Since 2006, the St. Cecilia Gala has been held to provide a funding source for a future “third source” income for the school and religious education. The St. Cecilia Gala, a fun and festive dinner event (includes a silent and live auction … as well as additional fun surprises!), is a wonderful community event that attracts over 300 people to support the future of St. Cecilia.
Ninety percent of the proceeds from the St. Cecilia Gala are placed in the St. Cecilia Education Endowment Fund to ensure the future of quality Catholic education for our community. The remaining funds (10%) are used to satisfy “immediate needs” for the school and religious education programs.
Some believe that the St. Cecilia Gala is a fundraiser for the elementary and preschool only. However, the Gala provides significant benefits to the entire faith formation effort at St. Cecilia's.
-Since 2006, the Gala has provided over $23,000 to the Religous Education and Youth Ministry Programs through the Gala endowment earnings and the immediate needs fund.
-In that same time, Gala has contributed over $93,000 to the Religous Education and Youth Ministry endowment fund.
-The 2010 Gala Enrichment Fund provided over $14,000 to enhance Religious Education and Youth Ministry faith formation efforts. The fund paid for trips, educational enrichment opportunities, bibles and confirmation gifts.
-The 2011 Gala Technology Fund provided new laptop computers, a new projector, and new teaching materials for the Religious Education and Youth Ministry programs.
-The 2009 Fund-a-Need helped build our parish's beautiful prayer garden.
