Fourth Annual NYC LGBT Student Scholarship Benefit – November 18, 2018

Posted on November 20, 2018 by GALA Chair

GALA ND/SMC, the LGBT alumni group for the University of Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s College, held the Fourth Annual NYC LGBT Student Scholarship Benefit on Sunday November 18, 2018. The benefit took place at Phil Donahue ’57 and his wife Marlo Thomas’ beautiful apartment overlooking Central Park.

The money raised at the event went to the LGBT Student Scholarship Fund which was created in the spring of 2015 to assist qualified LGBT undergraduate students of Saint Mary’s and Notre Dame. Through the generosity of the alums and friends who attended we have now gone over the $150,000 Milestone!!

The guest speaker at the benefit was 2018/2019 Scholarship Recipient Tim Jacklich ’20. Tim talked about his experience at Notre Dame as a gay student, and the support he’s received from his dormmates, fellow glee club members and the campus ministry staff. He also talked about the importance of the continued help from our LGBT alumni members both as role models as well as our on-going financial assistance.

For pictures of the event, go to: 2018 Scholarship Benefit.

2019 Thomas Dooley Award Nominations

Posted on October 27, 2018 by GALA Chair

Every two years, GALA ND/SMC honors one of the university’s most deserving alums Tom Dooley through an award in his name. The Thomas A. Dooley Award honors individuals who, through their faith-based background, have demonstrated personal courage, compassion and commitment to advance the human and civil rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans.

We are currently seeking nominations from our members for the 2019 Award, which will be announced at a dinner and award ceremony in April 2019. If you know of someone who you believe meets the criteria, complete this nomination form: 2019 Dooley Nomination. Please submit all nominations by Sunday November 11, 2018.

If you have questions, or to submit the nomination, reach out to Jack Bergen GALA ND/SMC Board Member at jack.bergen@yahoo.com.

Fourth Annual NYC LGBT Student Scholarship Benefit – November 18, 2018 – Save The Date!

Posted on July 6, 2018 by GALA Chair

GALA ND/SMC, is pleased to announce the Fourth Annual NYC LGBT Student Scholarship Benefit to take place on Sunday November 18, 2018 at 4:00pm. The benefit will be hosted once again by Phil Donahue ’57 and his wife Marlo Thomas’ at their beautiful apartment overlooking Central Park.

Join fellow alumni and friends for cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and camaraderie to raise money for the LGBT Student Scholarship Fund. Since the fund’s inception, members & friends have contributed over $115,000 of the $250,000 target. Our goal for this year’s event is $50,000. The featured guest will be 2018/2019 Scholarship Recipient Tim Jacklich ND ’20.

The weekend coincides with the Shamrock Series game being played at Yankee Stadium on Saturday November 17th. Come to NYC for the weekend and join us in raising money for the scholarship fund!

Registration will be open later in the summer, but make your plans now to attend. If you are unable to attend in person, you can still participate by making a donation to the scholarship fund here: GALA ND/SMC Giving

For more info go to 2018 Scholarship Benefit.

Saint Mary’s Reunion Panel – Saturday June, 2018 – 3:30pm

Posted on June 2, 2018 by GALA Chair

On Saturday, June 2nd, join Saint Mary’s alums for SMC’s Reunion 2018 LGBTQ alumnae panel and group discussion 3:30-4:30pm in Spes Unica room 145. The event will be livestreamed at GALA ND/SMC’s Facebook group, so join virtually if you can’t be there in person.

In addition to the panel discussion, those gathered will talk more about the new Saint Mary’s-focused group, SMC LGBTQ Alumnae and Allies.

ND Reunion Panel: Inclusion & Diversity at Notre Dame – Join The Conversation – Saturday, June 2, 2018 – 9:00am

Posted on April 26, 2018 by GALA Chair

As a Notre Dame community, we have an obligation to ensure that the principles of diversity and inclusion for people of all colors, genders, faiths, sexual orientations, social or economic class, and nationality are welcome and supported. Join diverse members from a variety of ND alumni communities (Black, Hispanic, LGBT, Asian Pacific and Native American) as we discuss this critically important and relevant topic. Panel sponsored by GALA ND/SMC, the Gay and Lesbian Alumni/ae of the University of Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s College. MODERATOR: Bryan Ricketts ’16, ’17, GALA ND/SMC Vice-Chair Membership

The event will be held on Saturday June 2nd at 9:00am in DeBartolo, room # 126. All alumni & friends are welcome! To see the event info on the ND Alumni Reunion Seminar Website, go here.

Notre Dame Day – 2018

Posted on April 18, 2018 by GALA Chair

In its 5th year, Notre Dame Day is a chance for our LGBT Alumni community to celebrate and give back to what we love at the University. Give a gift of $10 or more and receive 5 votes to distribute. We encourage you to donate and vote for PrismND, the LGBT student group. Help them raise funds for programming and for a portion of the $1.1M matching funds!!!

Update: Through the generous contributions of our alumni community and others, PrismND was able to raise ~$2,000 in direct contributions & $5,000 in matching funds!!!!

2018/2019 LGBT Scholarship Recipients Announced

Posted on April 17, 2018 by GALA Chair

GALA ND/SMC is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2018/2019 LGBT Student Scholarships. This year’s recipients are Anne Jarrett ND ’20 and Tim Jacklich ND ’20. Congratulations to both winners!

For more information on each recipient, go to LGBT Student Scholarship and to the front-page article in the Observer Wednesday April 25, 2018.

GALA ND/SMC Leadership Changes

Posted on March 30, 2018 by GALA Chair

The 2018 GALA ND/SMC Officer elections are now completed. Thanks to everyone who voted and congratulations to the new officer team! This is one of the most diverse group of officers our organization will have.

The 2018-2020 Officers are:

Chair: Ram Ballesteros ND ’09
Vice Chair – Membership: Bryan Ricketts ND ’16, ’17
Secretary: Morgan Benson ND ’14
Treasurer: Andrea Green ND ’11
Vice Chair – Programs: Currently Vacant (and looking for a volunteer)

To see each of their bios, go to 2018-2012 Officers. The new officers will assume responsibility as of May 1, 2018 following a transition during the month of April.

Board Changes

In addition to new officers, we welcome Chris Becker, Associate Professor in the Department of Film, Television, and Theatre, as a new board member representing ND faculty. Chris replaces Ave Preacher who recently stepped down from this role. Also departing the board is Bryan Ricketts as he assumes his role as Vice-Chair Membership.

We want to thank these individuals in volunteering for these important roles, and are all looking forward to the leadership each of them brings to our LGBT Alumni community.

Winter 2018 Newsletter

Posted on March 13, 2018 by GALA Chair

The Winter 2018 Newsletter was published on March 8, 2018. The newsletter includes a number of current-interest topics as well as upcoming events. To view the full publication, go to: Winter 2018 Newsletter.

Officer Elections
Alumni Feedback & Response
Activities on Campus
- LGBTQ Resource Fair
- ND Transgender Awareness Panel
- ND Graduate Student Union Panel
Upcoming Events
- Alumni Social in DC
- Alumni Reunion Weekend
Past Events
- NYC Christmas Party
- NYC Midnight Run Community Service Event
Membership Renews
ND Day- PrismND

GALA ND/SMC DC Area LGBT Alumni Social – Sunday March 11, 2018 – 3:00pm

Posted on February 6, 2018 by GALA Chair

GALA will be holding an Alumni Social on Sunday March 11th to bring together DC Area Alums & Friends. This will be a casual get-together of light appetizers and drinks. The event is hosted by Bob Davidson ’76 at his beautiful home in Chevy Chase MD. Come and join other alums to catch up and talk about future events and activities in the area.

The event will start at 3:00pm and run until 6:00pm. Bob’s home is located at 4308 Stanford St, Chevy Chase MD, 20815. There is plenty of on-street parking and is a short walk from the local Metro stop (Bethesda Station) using the Red Line.

Our host will be providing the main food and beverages, and invites guests to bring an appetizer or light dessert “pot-luck” style if they desire. For more info and to register, go to GALA DC Alumni Social or email Bob directly at Robertdcc@Gmail.com.

2018 – 2020 Officer Elections – Call for Nominations By February 20, 2018

Posted on January 25, 2018 by GALA Chair

Every two years GALA ND/SMC conducts elections for all officer positions. In 2018, elections will be taking place during March and we are looking for individuals to fill these roles. This is a great opportunity to take a leadership role in driving engagement for the Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s LGBT alumni & friends community. In addition, you get to play a key role in helping to strengthen our relationships with many key partner organizations both on campus and around the country.

Election Timeframe (Tentative)

Call for Nominations – January 25th – February 20th
Ballot out for Voting – March 1st – March 20th
Elections Results Announced – March 31st

WE CAN USE YOUR HELP!! The successfully elected individual is asked to make a two-year commitment, participate on monthly officer calls and attend major events for their position. The formal position descriptions can be found at: GALA Constitution. Regardless of the specific roles, all officers are encouraged to get involved in whatever way they feel they can make a difference. The positions available are as follows:

Chair
Vice-Chair Program
Vice-Chair Membership
Treasurer
Secretary

In addition to these elected positions, our group also has several other volunteer opportunities:

Fundraising Coordinator – Identify and execute on potential fundraising opportunities such as grants, corporate sponsorships and on-going donation activities.
Scholarship Fund Financial Investment Advisor – Now that the scholarship fund is over $100,000, the group is looking to create an “investment committee” to establish an investment strategy to ensure long-term viability. We are looking for a volunteer certified investment advisor to lead this committee. (Note- All funds will be held in Fidelity)
Regional Alumni Leaders – As we look to expand our regional chapters, we need alums “on the ground” who can put together a small group to start engaging local alums with social and other events.

For more information, and to nominate either yourself or another alum by February 20th, go to: 2018-2012 Officer Elections.

GALA ND/SMC Fall 2017 Newsletter

Posted on December 14, 2017 by GALA Chair

The Fall 2017 Newsletter was published on December 7, 2017. The newsletter includes a number of current-interest topics as well as upcoming events. To view the full publication, go to: Fall 2017 Newsletter.

Official Recognition Update
Activities on Campus
National News – LGBT ND Grad Elected as Seattle Mayor
LGBT Student Scholarship Campaign Hits $100,000 Milestone
Local GALA Club Events In Your City
Membership Renews
ND Day- PrismND
Past Events
Upcoming Events
Officer Elections in Early 2018
Regional Alumni Clubs

2018/2019 LGBT Student Scholarship Applications Now Open

Posted on December 14, 2017 by GALA Chair

For the fourth year in a row, GALA ND/SMC is proud to make available two scholarships to qualified LGBT students at Notre Dame & Saint Mary’s for the 2018/2019 academic year. The application window is open between December 15, 2017 and will continue through March 1, 2018. Recipients will be announced in April ’18.

Thanks to everyone who has generously contributed allowing us, as an alumni group, to offer these scholarships to such deserving students.

Alums & Friends…..for more information on prior recipients or to contribute, go to: LGBT Scholarships.

Students….to find out about eligibility requirements and to apply, go to: LGBT Student Scholarship Application.

ND/Miami Game Watches in Chicago & NYC – Saturday November 11, 2017

Posted on November 7, 2017 by GALA Chair

GALA is happy to sponsor two game watches for the very important matchup between Notre Dame and Miami on Saturday November 11th.

New York City – Join your Fighting Irish LGBT NYC alumni family to hear (from some of us) about what the heated rivalry was really like back in 1989 and hopefully watch ND get another W. As with previous game watches, Boxers in Chelsea (37 West 20th St) will be the venue. Kickoff is at 8:00 pm. And don’t forget to wear your ND attire!

Chicago – GALA members, and LGBTQ & ally members of the ND family: Let’s catch up over a few beers and watch the Irish beat the Hurricanes! If you’ve ever wished the ND LGBTQ community had events in Chicago, you enjoy Irish football, or you just want to connect with fellow alums, come join us Saturday evening at Declan’s! Look for the table with a pride flag on it (near the back).

Eugene O’Neill Lifetime Achievement Award Honors Phil Donahue ’57

Posted on October 20, 2017 by GALA Chair

Irish American Writers and Artists Inc. (IAW&A) honored ND grad and GALA ND/SMC board member talk-show pioneer, writer, and film producer Phil Donahue ’57 with the 2017 annual Eugene O’Neill Lifetime Achievement Award on Monday, October 16, 2017.

Many Irish celebrities were on hand to honor Phil including Brian Dennehy, Alan Alda and Rosie O’Donnell. A group of ND alums kicked off the award ceremony with a glorious rendition of the ND alma mater, a fitting tribute to Phil.

ND Magazine – Letter to the Editor on Tom Dooley Award Weekend

Posted on October 6, 2017 by GALA Chair

In the Autumn 2017 edition of the Notre Magazine, Liam Dacey ’04, GALA ND/SMC Board member, wrote a “letter to the editor” on the 2017 Tom Dooley Award Weekend. In the letter, Liam talks about the significance of the award in recognizing Kristen Matha and her contribution to the LGBT community. To read the full piece, go to: ND Magazine Letter To The Editor-Autumn 2017.

LGBT Student Scholarship Campaign Hits $100,000 Milestone

Posted on October 4, 2017 by GALA Chair

On September 24th, GALA ND/SMC held our Third Annual NYC LGBT Scholarship Fundraiser. The event was hosted once again by Phil Donahue ’57 and his wife Marlo Thomas’ in their beautiful apartment overlooking Central Park.

Due to the generosity of everyone attending, the Scholarship Campaign has now hit the $100,000 milestone of the targeted $250,000 endowment goal. Thanks to everyone who has donated throughout the program including members who have contributed through the “Enhanced Membership” levels.

To donate, go to: LGBT Scholarship Campaign or upgrade your membership level here.

Adoptapalooza – NYC’s Pet Adoption Event – Sunday September 17, 2017 – 8:45am-1:00pm

Posted on August 21, 2017 by GALA Chair

On Sunday September 17^th, the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals is holding their signature pet adoption event Adoptapalooza in Union Square Park (Broadway and East 17th St).

As part of GALA ND/SMC NYC Community Service Program, join other alums and friends to help make this event a success and see many of these pets be adopted by deserving families in NYC.

To register by Monday August 29th, go to: Adoptapalooza Community Service Event. Even if you can’t volunteer for the whole time, come for a few hours and help out. For more info, contact Martin van Koolbergen at mvan@kgmlighting.com and at 310-291-9726, or go to: Pet Adoption Volunteer Opportunity.