The 2020 Madonna Learning Center Gala was the last gala I covered before Covid shut down the Memphis social scene. It was the 50th Anniversary Golden Gala, which was held February 29th.
I remember the long line of eager guests holding their plates on either side of the long buffet tables that year at the Hilton Memphis. The Soul Shockers performed. Nobody was really thinking about masks or social distancing at that point.
So, it was great to be at the center’s “A Night of Winter Wonders” gala, which was held February 26th at the Hilton Memphis. It was like going back to the old normal.
Once again there were long buffet tables. And the Soul Shockers were back. “They’ve been with us for over 25 years,” says Madonna Learning Center executive director Jo Gilbert. “It wouldn’t be the gala without them.”
It was so great to see people I hadn’t seen in two years or more. I probably wasn’t the only one thinking that, either.
More than 600 attended, which was about half the number of people who attended the one in 2020, Gilbert says. For that gala, she says, “We had sold over 1,100 tickets.”
But, Gilbert says, “We were still happy that so many people were able to come this year. It was a success. We were very happy and thrilled to see the turnout.”
They did hold an event in 2020, “Rai$in’ on the River!,” which was “to take the place of the gala,” Gilbert says. It was held June 5th “in a huge tent” at Grind City Brewing Co. and featured Dr. Zarr’s Amazing Funk Monster.
Between 500 and 600 people attended. “People were, again, ready to get out.”
Asked why the galas are important to Madonna Learning Center, Gilbert says, “The money that we raise for the gala is what helps us offset the tuition deficit. We only charge families half of the actual cost.”
The “real cost” is “$23,000,” she says. “We only charge $14,000.
And, she says, “We have to make up that remaining balance of the tuition. And the gala is what helps us do that.”
FOOD FESTIVAL
Memphis Restaurant Association (MRA) served up something different on its plate this year.
Instead of a banquet, which was done in the past, the MRA Food Festival & Awards was held February 27th at The Kent.
Guests visited food stations representing restaurants and food purveyors.
“This was a new format for us to give our annual awards,” says MRA executive director Sally D. Fienup. “We consider it a success and are planning to repeat this food festival format in 2023.”
More than 450 people attended the festival, which featured 15 vendors, she says.
The festival followed Youth Villages Soup Sunday, which was the first event held at The Kent. “They were wonderful to work with. And the space is perfectly set up to allow food vendors to have their own space.”
MRA president Mike Miller presented three awards: Anthony House, operator of Chick-fil-A on Germantown Parkway, is Restaurateur of the Year; Brian Edwards, owner of Everything But the Food, is Associate of the Year; and the late Father Nicholas Vieron was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award. Vieron’s sons Paul and Lee Vieron accepted the award.
“Father Vieron was an annual attendee of our banquets and gave the invocation regularly up until — and including — our February 2020 banquet,” Fienup says. “He had many personal connections with those in the restaurant industry, and the Association wanted to recognize his many contributions to Memphis and his admirable career.”
