Gala 2026-A Huge Success! Thank You, St. Ben's! Auction Update

Wow!!! What a night to celebrate our parish community and support our school. Our many thanks to all our sponsors, item donors, evening ticket guests, and night of the event contributors who helped us to gross over $900,000! We would be remiss not to thank the amazing Gala committee of volunteers who made this all possible led by co-chairs, Meredith Blake and Cassidy Cunningham. This community’s generosity is amazing and it showed as the Fund-A-Need for scholarships and security camera upgrades hit a new all time high of $196,250. The fun is not over as tickets for Post-Parties are still available, you can still purchase a “There’s No Place Like St. Ben’s” ornament, First Communion Class Mosaic Cross Project, and/or the coveted Out of Uniform Packet for 2026-27! Click here to see what’s available on the Gala website. Distribution of certificates will begin coming home in backpacks this coming Monday. Other auction items, liquor, baskets, etc. will be distributed beginning Thursday, April 23rd at the gym south wall in the courtyard by the basketball hoops. Please see instructions below for balance payment information:

Please click here to review your cart (cart icon will appear in the upper right hand corner of your screen) so we are sure that everything that is there you are in agreement on and nothing is missing or needs to be removed. If there is a discrepancy, please contact Mr. Accardi at jaccardi@stbenedict.com and he will be able to resolve the issue prior to you providing payment. There are three ways to take care of your balance from the event:

a) FACTS in May for school families to avoid c.c. fees

b) A check made out to St. Benedict Prep

c) Credit card payment with a 3.5% fee attached

Please send Mr. Accardi an email requesting FACTS to be charged. We will need this authorization email from you by April 17th to have May FACTS billing completed. A check payment from a Donor Advised Fund is also accepted for donations made prior to or at the Gala. Personal checks can be dropped off at any school office or the rectory during regular business hours. For those who we do not receive payment emails, their credit card on file will be charged and a 3.5% fee added to the subtotal amount. Questions? Don't hesitate to reach out to Mr. Accardi via email or call (773)509-3832.

Click the above picture to see highlights from Gala 2026 courtesy of HEATHER HACKNEY PHOTOGRAPHY.

Take a moment to view our Fund-A-Need Video below from the night of the Gala. Thanks to Mrs. Jen Lavin Drelicharz for producing this wonderful video.