The Summit’s third annual Fall Gala was held on October 27, 2023 at beautiful Stevenson Ridge in Spotsylvania. The gala was a tremendous success, once again bringing together a community that loves to have fun, support our work, and dance the night away. Attendees enjoyed auctions, an open bar, and lots of wonderful conversations.

In her first year as gala chair, Erin Tierney did a remarkable job pulling the event together. Erin shared these reflections: 

 “The highlight of the gala is the joy I see on the faces of its attendees. They are not just there for a good time; they truly love this school, its mission, and the deep sense of community. Coordinating an event like this, especially with little experience, can be daunting at best and stressful at worst. But I was offered so much help from countless parents, teachers, and administrators, and prayers––many prayers––that it brought out joy in me as well. The paradox here is that as I became more confident in my abilities as a leader, mostly due to my very willing and competent team of volunteers, I became more humbled by their generosity and charity.”

During the night, we debuted a new video highlighting our top-notch faculty. They are Christian witnesses for our students of what lives of devoted prayer, study, and work look like. Their dedication to and love for the students is evident each and every day. This foundation is a big part of why we are positioned for sustainable and successful growth. Our faculty also contributed to a surprise thank-you video for Headmaster Julian Malcolm, who has spent nearly a decade founding and then running The Summit.

Our annual gala brought in $167,462 in revenue, including a substantial $15,000 pre-gala commitment for matching funds. Gala expenses will total roughly $32,000 and we will be putting away $35,000 for future campus planning. We will therefore be able to put $100,462 towards our Annual Fund. This fund is vital to maintaining our operations, ensuring that need-based financial aid for deserving students is covered, and helping retain our excellent faculty.

We are so grateful to our community, the attendees, event sponsors, vendors, and generous supporters. And we are excited for bringing everyone together next October!