All the Good that Came from the Gala that Wasn’t

by | Jul 13, 2020 | Community Involvement, Updates

Each year Western Carolina University’s UClub partners with the Staff Senate to hold a fundraiser, the biggest fundraiser each organization hosts during the year, to benefit the Staff Senate Scholarship. The spring 2020 event was slated to be the biggest and best yet – A Purple Carpet Gala. The ticketed event was to be hosted at the Paper Mill Lounge in downtown Sylva, and would feature dinner, drinks, “Paparazzi” taking photos of all the glamorous partygoers, and a silent auction. Members of the UClub and Staff Senate spent months planning, all 100 tickets were sold, and scores of local businesses donated items to be auctioned off.

And then the pandemic hit, the gala was postponed, and then eventually cancelled altogether.But this is a success story nonetheless – a story of all the good that came from the gala that wasn’t. First, almost every ticket holder agreed to donate the ticket cost to the scholarship. Even without an event, the gala raised $4,310 in donations and ticket sales. Second, local businesses throughout the region generously donated to the event, and we’re taking this opportunity to let you know about them, and encourage you to support them! Please check the bottom of the article for a complete listing. A special note of thanks to the Paper Mill Lounge for their extremely generous donation of the venue, food, and drinks for the event! Finally, Dr. Scott Eldredge in the Communication Department even turned the (non-)event into an educational opportunity for his students, having them conduct interviews and write press releases.

The UClub is a social organization, open to all faculty and staff at WCU, and a great place to get to know colleagues and friends from across the institution. They offer fun, family-friendly events throughout the year. To learn more about the UClub, visit their website: UClub website

The Staff Senate is an elected body that represents the university’s permanent, non-faculty employees. The Senate serves in an advisory capacity to the Chancellor and other university decision-making bodies and meets monthly to discuss staff members’ ideas and concerns. One long-term effort of the Senate is the establishment of an endowed scholarship, which aims to make Western enrollment attainable for children of staff members. To learn more about the Staff Senate and the Scholarship, visit the Staff Senate website.

And finally, we’ll mention that our planning for next year’s event is now way ahead of schedule. Can’t wait to see you on the Purple Carpet this spring! Please thank and support these local business:

  • Andrea Ford Acupuncture
  • Andy Shaw Ford
  • Aramark
  • WCU Athletics
  • Balsam Falls Brewing
  • Baxley’s Chocolate
  • BiLo Franklin
  • Bogarts
  • Bryson City Outdoors (WCU location)
  • Campus Scoop
  • Carole Lilly Massage
  • Carpenter, Guy & Arnold Attorneys at Law
  • Charles Wolfe State Farm
  • City Lights Cafe
  • Comfort Inn Sylva
  • Domino’s Pizza
  • Dunkin Donuts
  • 828 Escape Room
  • Ferrera’s (Sylva)
  • Forager’s Canteen
  • Fusions Spa and Wellness
  • Great Smoky Mountain Railroad
  • Guadalupe
  • HannaCole’s
  • Happy Go Lucky
  • Haywood Smokehouse
  • High Country Tire
  • Hollifield’s Jewelers
  • Humanite
  • Ingles ($20 in supplies)
  • Innovation Brewing
  • Jack the Dipper
  • Jackson’s General Store
  • Lazy Hiker
  • Lucios
  • Mad Batter
  • Mad Stone
  • Mini-Donut
  • NC Arboretum
  • Rathskeller
  • Jackson County Rec Center
  • Regina Cole
  • Rick’s (new BBQ)
  • Rockin Rollie Pollies Restaurant
  • Sazon
  • SCC Massages
  • Signature Brew
  • Soul Infusion
  • Style Studio (Rachel Bright)
  • The Cut
  • The Mossy Squirrel
  • The Paper Mill Lounge
  • Tolgard Games
  • WCU Bookstore
  • WCU Print Shop
  • WCU Stage and Screen
  • White Moon