Underwriting Underwriting is the source of funding that pays for the Gala. This committee contacts companies that have given cash contributions in the past as well as new contacts that are potential contributors for this year. These contacts include committee members' employers, friends, and well-known companies in Houston. This committee also solicits and encourages table sales and additional ticket sales. Underwriter solicitation packets are professionally designed and printed for committee members to distribute to potential underwriters. Members are responsible to follow up with potential underwriters via telephone, email or in person. Good underwriting is crucial to a successful event. These committee members will help where needed the night of the Gala, such as guest registration, gaming, etc. Mystery Gift Box The very popular Mystery Gift Boxes sell for $50 at the Gala and have a value of $75 or more (usually 50 boxes are made). This committee works with the other Revenue committees (Gaming and Silent Auction) to get contributions such as merchandise and gift certificates, etc., to sell in the mystery gift boxes. These are all gift-wrapped to look the same. The Mystery Gift Box committee will wrap the gifts prior to the Gala and works to sell the boxes early on the night of the Gala. Silent Auction This committee will work to get contributions such as merchandise and gift certificates, etc., to sell in the silent auction. This committee works with the other Revenue committees (Gaming and Mystery Gift Box) to contact companies that have given in the past, and solicit new businesses that may want to contribute this year. These contacts include businesses such as retail stores, restaurants, car washes, dry cleaners, etc. The Silent Auction committee then puts together items to sell, writes descriptions of each package, decorates and sets up the silent auction tables on the night of the event and coordinates with the highest bidder at the end of the night. Gaming The Gaming Committee chooses the games, contracts a gaming company to put on a gaming area, and sell gaming chips the night of the event. There is a gaming raffle for those who have gaming money left at the end of the night. This committee works with the other Revenue committees (Mystery Gift Box and Silent Auction) to get contributions such as merchandise and gift certificates to include in the raffle and also work in the Gaming area on the night of the event. Decorations This committee decorates the location of the Gala to match the annual theme as well as any theme décor necessary for the kick-off party and happy hours. In addition, the Decorations Committee helps coordinate theme displays for the Silent Auction. Creative ability is not a mandate for this committee! Once the decorations are decided, there is a lot to do to prepare table decorations, props, etc. because assembly is required. Decorations may consist of covering tables with floral arrangements and candles or adding lights, plants and props to the venue ballroom, such as pillars with ivy for Roman Holiday, etc. Also, this committee may want to suggest theme dressing for the waiters and gaming dealers, such as safari hats for Urban Safari. These committee members will work on set-up and clean-up the day of the Gala. Patron's Party Patrons are the valuable underwriters and in-kind donors that are very crucial to the Gala. We want them to feel that we appreciate their generosity, so we do this in two ways. This committee will host a cocktail party 2-3 weeks prior to the Gala. The committee will coordinate this party (location, food, time, etc.) along with printing and mailing out invitations. Secondly, the committee will decide the proper form of acknowledgement in the form of a token or thank you gift to be sent or delivered to the underwriters. This committee works with the Decorations committee to ensure the Patron's Party decorations and thank you gift match the theme of the event. These committee members will attend the party and may also be asked to help fill in where needed the night of the Gala, such as registration, etc. Honor & Memorial The Honor & Memorial Committee's goal is to honor and remember our friends and loved ones who have fought, are currently fighting, or have lost the battle against cancer. This committee brightens up the fight against cancer with Starlights. This committee sells Starlights in honor or in memory of our friends and loved ones. These Starlights serve as a reminder of the people who benefit from this fundraiser. In the past, these Starlights have been a strand of lights resembling shooting stars, as part of the décor at the Starlight Gala. A placard, listing all the people honored and remembered, is placed next to the Starlights. Starlights are purchased for $20 each. An acknowledgment, if desired, will be sent to the person or person's family as denoted by the donor directly from ACS. These committee members will help set up the Gala the day of the event and help where needed the night of the Gala, such as guest registration, gaming, etc. Site Coordination The Site Committee oversees all of the physical aspects of the event to include venue selection, securing food and beverage donors, ordering and confirming rental equipment, providing for the staffing needs, selecting the band and other entertainment, and site operations including valet, security, deliveries, etc. This committee works closely with other committee chairs to ensure that all equipment needs are met. In addition to the band, the Site Committee may want to include other entertainment to enhance the annual Gala theme. For example, we have used paparazzi and street dancers for City Lights; belly dancers, magicians and snake charmers for Taj Mahal; and an African drum band for Urban Safari. These committee members will assist and coordinate the set-up the day of the event and supervise site elements during the event. Printing & Guest List This committee works with the Gala chairs to design and produce all of our printed materials, manages the guest list and coordinates the mailing of the event invitation. This year, all of the graphic design, paper, printing and mail house fulfillment has already been generously donated. Printed items include stationary, event tickets, raffle tickets, underwriter packets, invitations, contribution forms, signage and the event program. This committee works closely with the committee chairs to ensure that all donor information is accurately listed. Managing the event guest list is an important function of this committee. The list consists of previous and current supporters, all donors and underwriters as well as friends, family and co-workers of all gala volunteers. All gala volunteers are asked to submit 10 names for the guest list. Once the list is compiled, volunteers of this committee may meet to address and stuff envelopes for mailing. These committee members will help set up the day of the event and work guest registration the night of the event. Publicity This committee will put the name and face of the Starlight Gala out into the public through newspaper, magazines, television and radio. This is done by running Gala ads in local publications in Dec./Jan., airing public service announcements on local television and radio stations, publicizing our Shining Star award recipient, producing press releases for our Patrons Party in January, and the Gala in February, among other things. This committee is limited in the number of members it needs, so please see the chair regarding availability. This committee chair will work with the patrons party committee and others as necessary. These committee members will help where needed the night of the Gala, such as guest registration, gaming, etc. Volunteer Recruitment This committee ensures that all volunteer needs are met, that they have signed up on a committee, and that they feel actively involved in that committee. Each committee person will work with the various chairs to ensure their volunteer needs are met as well. Committee members will also recruit additional volunteers to help with set up and work the night of the Gala. Additionally, this committee will plan the happy hours that are hosted throughout the year for all committee members and friends and act as hosts or hostesses during the happy hour. These committee members will help where needed the night of the Gala, such as guest registration, gaming, etc. If you have any questions regarding the above committees, or how you can help, please call Melissa Narvaez at 713.266.2877 Back to Top Starlight Gala 2005 Benefiting the American Cancer Society Design by Jesse Quintanilla