Develop an event theme that was the first of its kind and that would stand out in a market saturated with gala fundraising events.

The concept was inspired by 19th Century Mississippi steamboat culture and designed after the fictional Annabelle Lee. Details and finishing were executed with an obsession for quality. Letterpress was the main method of printing.

We surpassed our attendance goal of 250, with 284 attendees, an impressive 92% return on our mailing to 308 households. In addition, we far surpassed our 2014 financial goal of $210,230 with net proceeds of $378,810, resulting in the creation of 29 new scholarships for deserving MCC students.

Anecdotally, invitation recipients raved about the unique invitation package elements, stating they immediately opened the creative packaging and thoroughly read (and enjoyed) all there was to explore inside. New ticket purchasers referenced the invitation as their key reason for attending the event.